Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has asked for a thorough investigation into sexual harassment allegations levelled by Senator for Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Atiku made the call in a statement released on Friday.

In a Friday interview with Arise Television, Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed that Akpabio blocked her motions from being heard on the floor of the Senate because she rejected his sexual advances.

She alleged that the Senate President made advances at her when she visited his residence in company of her husband.

“My case is a case of a student being punished by a lecturer for refusing to sleep with him,” the senator stated.

But in a swift reaction through his media consultant, Kenny Okulogbo, Akpabio denied the allegation.

According to him, Akpoti-Uduaghan is angry because she was removed as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content.

Wading into the controversy, Atiku called for a probe to ascertain the truth of the matter.

The former VP said the “serious allegations of sexual harassment, intimidation, and mistreatment” deserved “a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation”.

“The Nigerian Senate represents the voice of the people. Those who serve in it — especially its leadership — must uphold the highest standards of integrity, dignity, and respect, both for their office and for the Nigerian citizens they serve.

“As the third most powerful figure in the country, the Senate President should embody unimpeachable character.

“Sexual harassment in the workplace is a significant barrier to women’s advancement and, by extension, the nation’s progress. Allegations of such misconduct should never be simply dismissed, particularly when they involve a public officer with immense power, influence, and responsibility.

“As the chief presiding officer of the Upper Chamber, the Senate President has a duty to champion the protection and empowerment of Nigerian women through legislation — not to be the subject of allegations that undermine those very principles.

“The handling of this matter will send a strong message about Nigeria’s commitment to justice, accountability, and the inclusion of women in governance,” Atiku said.

He urged the Senate to tackle the matter holistically, noting that “with only four women currently serving in the Senate, it is imperative that we foster an environment where female legislators can serve without fear of harassment or intimidation”.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has faulted the claims by Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, that the commission was selective in implementation of elections to fill vacancies arising from the defection of serving members of the National and State Assemblies from one political party to another.

The commission claimed that though no specific instance of the alleged selective action were presented, the statement had specifically accused it of deliberate failure to fill the vacancies resulting from the protracted crisis in the State House of Assembly where two factions are jostling for control.

INEC, in a statement by Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, attributed the delay in acting on the matter pending in the court, which will result to subjudice.

“Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to the Governor Fubara, in which the commission was accused of selective implementation of elections to fill vacancies arising from the defection of serving members of the National and State Assemblies from one political party to another.

“While no specific instances of the alleged selective action were presented, the statement specifically accused the commission of deliberate failure to fill the vacancies resulting from the protracted crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly where two factions are jostling for control.

“In the midst of the crisis, three or so lawmakers have declared the seats of 27 members vacant and vice versa.
“While the commission is aware of the situation in the Rivers State House of Assembly, the matter is pending in court and, therefore, subjudice.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the commission has been joined in several suits filed by litigants at various courts, including the Supreme Court.

“Under the circumstances, the commission must await the final judicial pronouncement on the matter before it embarks on a puerile exercise that may eventually amount to a nullity and a waste of public funds,” the statement from INEC read.

Advising the Rivers governor, the commission noted: “We urge people occupying high public offices to be circumspect in their public statements before they mislead the public and cast aspersion on public institutions, particularly where they are aware of the pendancy of cases in court.”

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu for his silence on the crisis currently rocking the Lagos State House of Assembly.

In a statement signed by his media aide, Paul Ibe, on Thursday, Atiku described Tinubu’s silence as a tacit endorsement of anti-democratic tactics aimed at subverting the will of lawmakers.

He also condemned what he called “backdoor tactics” being used to reverse the removal of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, despite his impeachment by a majority of Assembly members.

Earlier in the day, Obasa stormed the Lagos Assembly complex, insisting that he remains the Speaker.

“Despite his undisputed influence over Lagos politics, President Bola Tinubu has remained conspicuously silent on the matter. His refusal to address the crisis suggests a tacit endorsement of the anti-democratic manoeuvres aimed at imposing his preferred candidate against the overwhelming will of Assembly members,” Atiku said in the statement.

“This silence is deafening and deeply concerning,” he added.

Atiku further accused the president of turning Lagos politics into a battleground between “the noble values of Omoluabi—rooted in integrity, fairness, and public service—and the crass, strong-arm tactics of Area Boy politics, where power is retained through coercion rather than consensus.”