The suspended Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central), has reignited tensions within Nigeria’s legislative chambers with a scathing, satirical “apology” directed at Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In a letter dripping with biting irony, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan offered what she termed a profuse “apology” for the “grievous crime” of maintaining dignity and self-respect in the presence of the Senate President. Her remarks, heavy with sarcasm, have intensified conversations around gender dynamics and power struggles within the National Assembly.
Mockingly referencing expectations of compliance, she wrote:
“How remiss of me not to understand that my refusal to indulge your… ‘requests’ was not merely a personal choice but a constitutional violation of certain men’s entitlement.”
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan did not mince words in addressing systemic sexism in her letter:
“Please find it in your magnanimous heart — somewhere buried deep beneath layers of entitlement — to forgive this stubborn woman who mistakenly believed that her seat in the Senate was earned through elections, not erections.”
The letter, titled “Unafraid, Unbought, and Unbroken,” included a theatrical reflection on what she described as the expectation of personal capitulation over merit and vision in Nigeria’s political environment.
This latest exchange marks an escalation in a feud that first became public in July 2024, when Akpabio rebuked Akpoti-Uduaghan during a plenary session, saying, “We are not in a nightclub,” after she attempted to speak without recognition. The comment was widely condemned as sexist, sparking outrage and calls for an apology.
Although Akpabio later issued a statement denying any ill-intent and affirming his respect for women, tensions only worsened. In February 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan formally accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, citing inappropriate advances and comments—a petition that was later dismissed on procedural grounds.
Subsequently, the Senate suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months over alleged misconduct. Many Nigerians, however, viewed the move as retaliatory and an attempt to silence her. The suspension ignited nationwide protests under the slogan “We are all Natasha,” with women’s rights groups rallying in her defense.
While groups such as the Kogi Patriotic Consultative Assembly called on her to apologize and move forward, others have hailed her defiant stance as a courageous challenge to systemic gender discrimination in Nigerian politics.
Akpabio has consistently denied all allegations, describing Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims as “baseless” and threatening legal action for defamation.
As the controversy deepens, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s bold letter has further cemented her image as a fearless voice confronting entrenched power structures and championing gender equality in Nigeria’s political arena.
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