Atedo Peterside, the founder of Anap Foundation, has expressed that the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from Kogi Central by the Senate is a sign of disrespect towards her constituents.
In a social media post on Sunday, Peterside, who is also the founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, characterized the suspension of the female senator as troubling.
“The most troubling aspect of the recent turmoil in the Nigerian Senate concerning Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is that the Senate Leadership must recognize that her six-month suspension is not only beyond their authority but also disrespectful to her constituents in Kogi State, yet they appear indifferent,” Peterside remarked, affirming his support for the senator during this challenging time.
The ongoing conflict between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan escalated on Thursday, March 6, 2025, when the Senate took decisive action to suspend the Kogi Central Senator, who had accused the Senate President of sexual harassment and abuse of office following a dispute over seating arrangements on February 20, 2025.
Akpabio has denied the allegations of sexual harassment made against him by the Kogi lawmaker.
In response, the female senator has filed a defamation lawsuit against him for N100 billion, while the Senate, under Akpabio’s leadership, has referred her case to the Senate disciplinary committee.
Subsequently, Akpoti-Uduaghan sought a Federal High Court order in Abuja, which granted her a restraining order against the Senate committee from proceeding with disciplinary actions against her, with the case adjourned until March 10, 2025.
On Wednesday, March 5, 2025, the Senate committee dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition regarding sexual harassment and abuse of office against the Senate President, labeling it “dead on arrival” due to procedural errors and legal limitations; however, the female senator refiled her petition the following day.
The seating dispute was not the first point of contention between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan. In July 2024, the Senate President had issued an apology to the female legislator concerning his remarks.
