The Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Onyekachi Peter Nwebonyi, has strongly defended Senate President Godswill Akpabio against allegations of sexual harassment, dismissing them as a politically motivated distraction designed to evade disciplinary action.
In a statement titled “The Difference is Clear: Protecting the Senate from Political Manipulation, Not Rewarding Falsehood,” Nwebonyi criticized former Senate President Bukola Saraki’s comparison of his past case to the current allegations against Akpabio. He argued that Saraki’s situation, which involved administrative issues related to his official duties, was fundamentally different from the personal accusations now being leveled against Akpabio.
According to Nwebonyi, the sexual harassment claims by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan only surfaced after she was summoned for disciplinary proceedings, despite allegedly occurring over a year ago. He questioned why there had been no prior complaint, no mention to her husband, or disclosure to female colleagues in the Senate before now.
“If we take Saraki’s argument to its logical conclusion, we would be establishing a dangerous precedent—one where any gold digger or habitual liar can throw out an unsubstantiated allegation and expect the Senate to come to a halt while they are entertained,” Nwebonyi stated.
He further accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of having a pattern of making reckless allegations against prominent figures, including Reno Omokri, Dino Melaye, and Yahaya Bello, without providing credible evidence. He suggested that her current claim was part of a broader strategy to avoid accountability.
Nwebonyi also pointed out that despite her claims, Akpoti-Uduaghan never raised the issue within the Senate chamber, even when she had the opportunity to do so. Instead, she chose to go public through the media, a move he described as “grandstanding” rather than seeking genuine redress.
“True protection of the Senate’s integrity means ensuring that its processes are not hijacked by baseless, opportunistic claims,” he said. He called on Akpoti-Uduaghan to follow due process by addressing her grievances through the Senate Ethics Committee or the appropriate legal channels, rather than using the media as a shield against accountability.
Nwebonyi concluded by urging the Senate to resist being distracted by what he called a diversionary tactic and to remain focused on its legislative duties.
