Senate President Godswill Akpabio Apologizes to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for “Night Club” Remark …says I’ve daughters too

By Iyojo Ameh

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has issued a public apology to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content, following a contentious exchange in the Senate last Thursday.

Recall that, during plenary last week Thursday, as the Senate President called for a vote on the second reading of a bill, the ‘Nay’ response was the loudest.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan rose to clarify that she and others were not opposed to the bill but sought slight modifications. “Mr. President, we don’t want it to be killed. We just want a bit of modification. We don’t want the bill killed but there should be slight modification,” she stated.

In response, Akpabio remarked, “You see Senator Natasha, in the chamber, you have to be recognized before you speak. We’re not in a nightclub.”

The comment quickly stirred controversy, with many viewing it as an insult. Addressing the backlash on the Senate floor on Tuesday, Akpabio clarified that his remark was misunderstood.

“We are still learning, even those of us who have been in the Senate for 16 years, we are still learning,” Akpabio said. “But in the course of speaking with one of my distinguished sisters on not speaking when not recognized, I made reference to the fact that we are not in a night club where people have to shout above the noise of the music.”

Akpabio also addressed the social media frenzy and the impact on his family. “The social media went agog, my wife called me that they published her number and she received around 2,000 to 3,000 calls per day,” he revealed.

He expressed gratitude for the public’s interest in Senate proceedings, emphasizing that they serve the people’s interests. “The communication was totally misunderstood. Instead of making meaning with what we said, they went into private abuses; I don’t want to say what they did to me,” Akpabio said.

Reaffirming his respect for women, Akpabio added, “I will not intentionally denigrate any woman. I have a wife and four daughters, and I always pray that God will lift a girl to the highest zenith in Nigeria politically and in business. So Senator Natasha, I want to apologize to you if you felt offended.”

“There is nothing I will say that would not be misrepresented. I felt I should tender a public apology to you,” he concluded.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has not yet publicly responded to the apology.