Natasha vs. Akpabio: Protesters clash at National Assembly entrance

The entrance of the National Assembly on Wednesday witnessed a fight between protesting supporters of the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and those of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who accused him of sexual harassment.

The supporters could be seen with placards showing different inscriptions while chanting solidarity songs.

Some of the placards seen with the Senate President’s supporters claimed that he “did nothing but treat Natasha as his daughter,” while others stated that he’s innocent of the allegation against him.

Right opposite them were Natasha’s supporters with placards saying, “I stand with Natasha,” as they sang to overshadow the voices from the other party.

Natasha’s supporters also demanded Akpabio’s resignation over the allegation against him.

Shortly after the drama began, Natasha arrived in a black vehicle and was welcomed like a hero by her supporters.

However, a fight broke out between the two groups when a shouting match wasn’t enough to prove superiority or silence the other party.

It took the intervention of security operatives to restore order at the entrance of the National Assembly to enable other lawmakers to arrive for plenary.

After finding her way into the Senate chambers, Natasha submitted a petition against Akpabio, accusing him of sexual harassment and abuse of office.

The petition was submitted at plenary days after she accused Akpabio of sexual harassment on national television.

According to the lawmaker representing Kogi Central, she had to open up about her predicament because Akpabio was punishing her for refusing his sexual advances.

This was after her contributions at plenary were not acknowledged by Akpabio because she refused to speak from the seat she was assigned to in the chambers, which she claimed was unfavorably positioned.

Her allegation led to calls for Akpabio to resign as Senate President pending the initiation and conclusion of a probe.

However, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, told Arise TV that the Senate was not paying attention to Natasha’s allegation because there was no such case in the form of a petition before it.

This may have prompted Natasha’s decision to file a petition on Wednesday, which she submitted to Akpabio.

Addressing fellow lawmakers, she said, “Distinguished colleagues, I am Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, and I stand to raise a petition under Order 40: ‘A petition may only be presented to the Senate by a Senator who shall affix his or her name at the beginning thereof.’

“The petition is in my name against the President of the Nigerian Senate, His Excellency Senator Godswill Akpabio, for sexual harassment, abuse of office, and malicious obstruction of my legislative functions. You may recall, Sir, that on Friday, on Arise TV, I made some statements, and I have decided to narrow these statements into a formal petition against the President of this Senate. So if it may please you, I will humbly step forward and lay this petition.”

In response, Akpabio said, “You may proceed.”

Pictures are by Ladidi Atero