In a dramatic twist in Nigeria’s political landscape, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, facing mounting allegations of sexual harassment, is reportedly set to momentarily step down in what insiders describe as a strategic move to allow the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions (SCEPPP) to officially clear his name. However, the alleged plan goes beyond exoneration—sources reveal it is also designed to recommend an indefinite suspension for his accuser, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
SaharaReporters has learned that Akpabio and Natasha are scheduled to appear before the Senate Committee in the coming week, a step described by top sources in the red chamber as a mere formality to give the Senate President a clean slate before launching a devastating political blow against his female colleague.
The investigation will be spearheaded by Senator Neda Imasuen’s committee, which, according to sources, has already set the stage for Akpabio’s exoneration. The alleged plot will see the committee declare the Senate President “officially innocent” of all allegations, while simultaneously recommending that Senator Natasha be suspended indefinitely—effectively sidelining her for the remainder of her tenure.
“The plan currently being orchestrated is to suspend Senator Natasha till 2027. The panel’s report is already being drafted. Akpabio will theatrically step down, appear before the committee, and within hours be declared innocent. The next move will be to suspend Natasha indefinitely and strip her of all Senate privileges. They want to completely silence her.”
The recent statements by Senator Ireti Kingibe endorsing the investigation and Senator Onyekachi Nweboyin’s interview on Channels TV are also reportedly part of this coordinated effort to give the process an air of legitimacy.
The unfolding saga has taken on legal dimensions, with Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan escalating her fight against Akpabio beyond the Senate chambers. She has petitioned the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) over the allegations of sexual harassment and has also taken the battle to the courts.
In Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, she accuses the Senate leadership of contempt of court for defying an existing judicial order restraining the committee from taking disciplinary actions against her. Justice Obiora Egwuatu had issued an ex-parte order on March 4, declaring any disciplinary steps against her null and void. However, the Senate brazenly ignored this ruling and proceeded with her six-month suspension, sealing her office and instructing her to hand over all Senate property in her possession.
In response, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team filed a Form 48 Notice of Disobedience of Court Order, warning the Senate leadership of the consequences of defying the judiciary. The notice, dated March 7, states:
> “Your willful disobedience of the order of this Honourable Court renders you liable for contempt, for which you may be committed to prison unless you comply.”
This development underscores the high-stakes power struggle playing out within Nigeria’s legislative arm. The looming showdown between Akpabio and Natasha is no longer just about allegations of misconduct—it has evolved into a battle for political survival, institutional credibility, and gender equity in Nigeria’s male-dominated Senate.
As the drama unfolds, all eyes are on the Senate Committee’s report and the extent to which it follows the pre-determined script alleged by sources. Will Akpabio emerge unscathed, and will Natasha face indefinite political exile? Or will mounting public scrutiny and legal pressure derail the alleged plot?
One thing is certain: the Senate is on the brink of one of its most controversial moments in history.
PIONEER NEWS 