Former Senate Minority Leader, Abiodun Olujimi, has addressed the ongoing dispute between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The conflict began over a seating arrangement, leading Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan to file a defamation lawsuit against Mr. Akpabio and his senior legislative aide, Mfon Patrick, seeking N100 billion in damages and N300 million in litigation costs. The lawsuit stems from a Facebook post allegedly made by Mr. Patrick following a heated argument between the Senate President and Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The situation escalated when Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Mr. Akpabio of sexual harassment during a December 8, 2023 visit to his residence in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. In response, Mr. Akpabio’s wife, Ekaette, dismissed the allegation as baseless and filed two defamation lawsuits against Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan, seeking N350 billion in damages for damaging her husband's reputation.
In an interview with Arise Television, Mrs. Olujimi, who represented Ekiti South Senatorial District from 2015 to 2023, described Mr. Akpabio as humorous and fond of making light of situations, which can make him vulnerable to misinterpretation. She recounted instances where male senators faced immense pressure and were often victimized, requiring support to address blown-out-of-proportion issues.
Mrs. Olujimi advised Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan to seek an amicable resolution without resorting to legal action, expressing concern that pursuing the case in court might portray women as emotionally unstable. She emphasized the importance of women being strong enough to face challenges and suggested that taking the matter out of court would be a better approach.
