Afenifere Senate Akpoti controversy deepens as Yoruba group urges probe into her sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Akpabio

Afenifere Senate Akpoti dispute has taken a new turn as the Yoruba socio-political group urged the Senate and the Attorney-General of the Federation to determine whether Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan misled the public with her claims against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

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The group said while it welcomed the Senate’s decision to lift Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension, her allegations could not simply be dismissed without judicial scrutiny.

Akpoti was suspended in March for breaching Senate rules, but her recall this week was hailed by Afenifere as a step that reaffirmed the rule of law.

National Organising Secretary of Afenifere, Kole Omololu, commended Akpabio and the Senate leadership for their decision but raised concerns about the senator’s claims of sexual harassment.

“These are allegations with serious national and international implications. For over six months, where are the facts and evidence?” Omololu asked.

The group called on security agencies, including the Nigeria Police, DSS and NIA, to investigate the allegations thoroughly, noting Akpoti-Uduaghan’s past false claim of harassment against Reno Omokri, which ended in a damages award through settlement.

Afenifere criticised Akpoti-Uduaghan’s decision to take her claims to platforms such as BBC, CNN, Sky News and Deutsche Welle, arguing it cast Nigeria in a negative light globally.

It also questioned her reported participation in an Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting in New York, which it said should have been strictly by nomination.

“If Natasha truly participated without due nomination, then it reveals her compromise or manipulation of institutions for pecuniary ends,” the group argued.

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The controversy underscores rising tensions in the Senate and highlights concerns over the balance between political accountability, reputation, and the global perception of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.