Nigerian politician and husband to actress Regina Daniels, Senator Ned Nwoko, has expressed disappointment in the handling of the controversy involving Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Nwoko criticized Natasha’s husband for failing to de-escalate her sexual assault allegations against Akpabio before they became a public scandal.
“I was deeply disappointed by the reaction of her husband. I had expected him to find a way to de-escalate the matter and prevent it from becoming a full-blown crisis. When he sent me his statement, I told him exactly how I felt. If my wife were in such a situation, I would do everything possible to resolve it privately and prevent unnecessary division.”
Nwoko: Natasha’s Husband Could Have Prevented Public Drama
Nwoko further revealed that Natasha’s husband had a long-standing friendship with the Senate President before their marriage, insisting that the issue could have been resolved behind closed doors.
“It is even more surprising because her husband has been friends with the Senate President long before he married Natasha. This could have been settled without this level of unnecessary public drama.”
Debunking Claims of Gender-Based Suppression
Addressing claims that Natasha’s suspension from the Senate was an act of gender-based suppression, Nwoko dismissed the notion, arguing that the real issue was maintaining Senate standards rather than silencing opposition.
“It is disingenuous to claim that this is a case of gender-based suppression when the facts point to a different reality. The real danger is allowing rules to be bent simply because a particular lawmaker chooses to play the victim card when confronted with the consequences of their actions.”
“This is not about suppressing opposition or silencing voices; it is about maintaining the dignity of the institution and ensuring that every member adheres to the same standards of conduct.”
Senate Did Not Deliberate on Sexual Harassment Allegations
The senator also clarified that the Senate never deliberated on any sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio, as the case is currently before the courts and the United Nations.
“One thing that must be made clear is that the Senate did not deliberate on any sexual harassment allegations. That matter is before the courts, and the courts will decide. It is highly unlikely that she will win such a case because the alleged incident supposedly happened over a year ago. She had multiple opportunities to report it to the Senate, the police, or any authority, yet she did not.”
The controversy surrounding Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Akpabio has continued to generate heated discussions across political and public spaces in Nigeria.
Do you think Natasha’s suspension was justified, or does this case highlight gender-based suppression in Nigerian politics? Share your thoughts in the comments.