Senate President Godswill Akpabio has expressed that the sexual harassment allegations made against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan have caused significant distress to both him and the Nigerian Senate. He contends that these allegations surfaced only after Akpoti-Uduaghan's committee assignments and seating arrangements were altered, suggesting a possible motive linked to these changes.

Akpabio highlighted that the alleged incident was said to have occurred on December 8, 2023, yet no complaints were raised until after the committee and seating adjustments. He also referenced past instances where Akpoti-Uduaghan had made similar accusations against others, which reportedly were not substantiated.

In response to these developments, the Senate suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months, citing violations of legislative decorum, including refusing to sit in her assigned seat and making disrespectful remarks against the Senate leadership. The Senate's ethics committee reviewed her allegations but dismissed them due to procedural rule violations.

Akpabio emphasized the trauma these allegations have inflicted on the Senate's image and operations, expressing his reluctance to make further statements on the matter.