Emmanuel Uduaghan, the husband of Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has broken his silence over his wife’s allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Uduaghan, a traditional chief of the Warri Kingdom in Delta State, confirmed that she confided in him about their interactions.
He revealed that he initially approached the situation with diplomacy and respect, hoping for an amicable resolution.
In a statement on Saturday, March 1, 2025, Uduaghan explained that he had considered Akpabio a family friend and sought a private meeting to address his wife’s concerns.
“My wife has confided in me about her interactions with the Senate President, whom I considered a family friend. In response, I approached the matter with the utmost maturity and responsibility, as it is my duty as a traditional leader who has immense respect for constituted authority and upholds core family values to foster peace and harmony,” he said.
He recounted that during their meeting, he urged Akpabio to extend the respect and courtesy his wife, as a sitting senator, deserved.
“I personally met with the Senate President and respectfully urged him to extend the courtesy and respect my wife deserves, while also honoring the friendship between us. We reached an understanding and agreed to resolve the issue amicably,” Uduaghan added.
However, despite this supposed agreement, Uduaghan stated that his wife continued to express concerns about ongoing harassment from Akpabio, suggesting that the issue remained unresolved.
“However, despite this agreement, my wife continues to express concerns about the harassment she has endured from the Senate President,” he noted.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had earlier alleged in an interview with Arise Television that Akpabio made inappropriate advances towards her during a visit to his residence in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on December 8, 2023.
She claimed that the Senate President took her by the hand, led her around his house, and made sexual advances toward her in the presence of her husband.
She further alleged that on another occasion, Akpabio insinuated that she should “take care of him” if she wanted her motions to receive favourable consideration on the Senate floor.
In response, Akpabio’s wife, Ekaette Akpabio, dismissed the allegations and filed two defamation lawsuits against Akpoti-Uduaghan, seeking N350 billion in damages for her husband’s reputation.
Despite the controversy, Uduaghan expressed unwavering faith in his wife’s loyalty and stood firmly by her side.
“I have unwavering faith in my wife’s loyalty and am fully committed to our marriage, which is grounded in love, compassion, and mutual respect. I would never trade her for anything, as she is the greatest joy of my life,” he said.
He also appealed to the Senate to treat his wife with the dignity she deserves while allowing the relevant authorities to determine the facts of the matter.
“I now respectfully urge the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Senate President to treat my beloved wife with the respect and dignity she truly deserves while the relevant authorities and the court determine the underlying issues.
“It is clear that certain sentiments are being stirred up unnecessarily, distracting from the serious underlying allegations, which should concern every discerning individual with sound family values.
“Without prejudice to the ongoing legal proceedings, I wish to emphasize that my wife was duly elected by her people due to the immense love, respect, and confidence they have in her, and she is committed to delivering quality representation to her district and the nation at large.
“She is a devoted wife, and the bond we share is deep and unwavering. She has always remained truthful, even in the face of adversity,” he concluded.