- Sues Senator Natasha Over Satirical Apology Post
Ilesanmi Adewale
In a diatribe, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has sharply criticised Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, for his recent remarks suggesting that “the labour of our heroes past is all in vain.”
Speaking at a valedictory session in honour of South-South elder statesman Chief Edwin Clark on Thursday, Akpabio said Obi lacked the moral authority to govern Nigeria if he could not manage internal party disputes.
“If you cannot resolve the crisis in your Labour Party, how can you solve the crisis of Boko Haram or other major national issues?” Akpabio asked.
Obi courted trouble when in a tribute delivered a day earlier during a memorial lecture for Clark decried the erosion of democratic values in Nigeria and said sacrifices by past leaders like Yakubu Gowon and Goodluck Jonathan were being undermined.
He cited the lack of public protests over fuel price hikes as evidence of civic apathy under the current administration, contrasting it with the protests during Jonathan’s era.
Akpabio responded by touting his track record as Akwa Ibom State governor, highlighting projects like dualized roads, international hospitals, and free, compulsory education.
He also noted his religious inclusivity efforts through mass pilgrimages for Christians and Muslims.
He concluded by warning against the misuse of social media, saying that while it has utility, it often spreads division and misinformation.
“I urge those aspiring to lead Nigeria to first address the issues within their own parties,” he added.
In another development, Akpabio also filed a legal action at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to compel suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to take down a satirical video apology she posted on social media, which he alleges violates a judicial directive.
The post in question, shared by Akpoti-Uduaghan on April 27, featured a mock apology in which she sarcastically claimed she was sorry “for the crime of maintaining dignity and self-respect” and for allegedly rebuffing inappropriate advances from Akpabio.
The video implied that the Senate President was accustomed to getting his way and could not tolerate rejection.
The feud between the two lawmakers reportedly began with a disagreement over Senate chamber seating arrangements, which escalated into a public spat and formal legal disputes.
Following her accusations of sexual harassment against Akpabio, Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the Senate.
In an earlier suit, Akpoti-Uduaghan sought a court order to halt a Senate Ethics Committee investigation into her alleged misconduct.
Presiding Judge Binta Nyako subsequently issued an injunction on April 4, 2025, restraining all parties from making public statements on the matter pending further proceedings.
Akpabio’s legal team, led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), has now submitted a fresh motion requesting the court to:
- Order Akpoti-Uduaghan to delete the video from all her social media platforms,
- Instruct her to issue a formal written apology to the Senate President in at least two national newspapers, and
- File an affidavit confirming compliance with the court’s directive.
The court is expected to hear arguments on the motion at the next sitting.
