Tensions Boil Over: Suspended Senator Natasha Accuses Akpabio of Assassination Plot—”A Desperate Cry for Help”
ABUJA — A political storm is raging in Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber as the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has fired back at a petition by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who accused her of criminal defamation and incitement.
Akpabio, in a petition dated April 3 to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and copied to Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), claims the embattled senator falsely accused him of plotting her assassination—a charge he calls a “heinous lie” and a “deliberate attempt to incite unrest.”
The explosive allegation stems from Natasha’s comments made on April 1 in Kogi State, where she accused Akpabio of instructing former Governor Yahaya Bello to “eliminate her,” under the guise of an attack from her own constituents.
“This is not only a heinous lie but a reckless and deliberate attempt to damage my reputation, endanger my life and incite political unrest,” Akpabio wrote. “It’s a calculated act of blackmail and character assassination.”
But Natasha, through her legal counsel Victor Giwa, has responded firmly, insisting that her claims were not political theater, but a desperate cry for help.
“She has received the petition and responded. That statement wasn’t a political gimmick—it was a plea to the public,” said Giwa, who also condemned the Senate President for ordering the withdrawal of her security details after her suspension.
Giwa blasted the decision, calling it dangerous and irresponsible:
“You say she committed misconduct, fine. But what does that have to do with withdrawing her security? She’s still a politically exposed person. She has a life outside the Senate.”
The controversy has sparked fierce debate nationwide, as some view Natasha’s suspension and the subsequent petition as an attempt to muzzle a vocal critic of Senate leadership.
Meanwhile, a pro-Akpabio group, Movement for National Accommodation and Consensus for Continuity (MONACCO), has launched a nationwide sensitisation campaign aimed at defending Akpabio’s “jovial and misunderstood” character.
Speaking in Gusau, Zamfara State, MONACCO President Salisu Isah described Akpabio as a friendly leader whose casual demeanor is often misread—particularly by women.
“He’s a jovial man. Some people take advantage of his openness to paint him in a bad light,” said Isah, warning that public misinterpretations could be weaponized for political gain.
He drew comparisons to U.S. politics and past Nigerian political scandals, urging caution in speech by public figures. Still, he stopped short of directly absolving Akpabio, admitting:
“Careless talk can cost a life.”
Isah maintained that the Akpoti-Akpabio drama is a politically driven distraction meant to divide the Senate and mislead the public.
As MONACCO tours the country to boost Akpabio’s image, the legal and political fate of Senator Natasha hangs in the balance. With national attention locked on the case, questions continue to swirl:
Is this a case of whistleblowing—or a dangerous political game?
