Oby Ezekwesili Condemns Senate’s Suspension of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Calls It Abuse of Power

Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has strongly criticized the six-month suspension imposed on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by the Senate, describing it as a “vicious abuse of power.”

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Ezekwesili accused the Senate of refusing to investigate Akpoti-Uduaghan’s sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. She condemned the red chamber’s decision, saying it had chosen “the ignoble path of vicious abuse of power and desecration of our public institution.”

“When men, because of little power fleetingly acquired, start speaking like they are God, we all must remember what history reveals of their kind,” she wrote.

Addressing the embattled senator, she added: “Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, you have inspired a generation. You have inspired all credible citizens. You will never walk alone.”

Background of the Controversy

On February 20, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, rejected her assigned seat in the Senate chamber and challenged the Senate President’s directive. She later accused Akpabio of harassment and filed a ₦100 billion defamation suit against him. In response, the Senate referred her to its disciplinary committee.

On March 5, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions dismissed her petition against Akpabio, citing procedural violations and legal constraints. The committee argued that:

• Akpoti-Uduaghan personally signed the petition instead of having it endorsed by another individual, making it invalid.
• The issues raised were already in court, placing them outside the Senate’s jurisdiction.

Despite the rejection, Akpoti-Uduaghan resubmitted her petition on Thursday, reigniting tensions over the case.