BREAKING: Senate rejects Natasha’s petition against Akpabio

The Senate has ruled a petition submitted by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) against Senate President Godswill Akpabio as invalid, citing procedural issues.

During a session on Wednesday, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, Senator Neda Imasuen (LP, Edo South), declared the petition inadmissible.

He explained that Akpoti-Uduaghan personally signed the petition instead of having it endorsed by another party, violating Order 40 of the Senate Standing Orders.

Additionally, he noted that the allegations contained in the petition were already the subject of a court case, making them sub judice.

Despite being scheduled to appear before the committee at 2:00 PM, Akpoti-Uduaghan was absent.

The session eventually commenced at 2:58 PM after the arrival of the committee chairman and Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), who had also been delayed.

The petition stemmed from events during a recent Senate plenary, leading Akpabio to refer the matter to the Ethics Committee for investigation.

Senator Adaramodu informed the Senate that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s public dispute over her seat allocation and her media statements—including an interview with Brekete Family on Human Rights Radio and TV—had brought the Senate’s integrity into question.

Following deliberations, the Senate reaffirmed its decision to have the Ethics Committee handle the matter, with Senator Imasuen leading the review.