“Not Erections, Elections”: Senator Natasha Fires Back at Akpabio with Scathing ‘Apology’ Letter

“Not Erections, Elections”: Senator Natasha Fires Back at Akpabio with Scathing ‘Apology’ Letter

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central), who was recently suspended as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, has reignited controversy in Nigeria’s political landscape with a sharply worded letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

In a stunning display of sarcasm and defiance, Akpoti-Uduaghan issued what she termed an “apology,” dripping with irony, for what she described as the “grievous crime” of maintaining dignity and independence in the Senate chambers.

Mocking the gender and power dynamics she accuses Akpabio of perpetuating, the senator wrote:

“How remiss of me not to understand that my refusal to indulge your… ‘requests’ was not merely a personal choice but a constitutional violation of certain men’s entitlement.”

Highlighting systemic sexism in Nigerian politics, Akpoti-Uduaghan continued:

“Please find it in your magnanimous heart — somewhere buried deep beneath layers of entitlement — to forgive this stubborn woman who mistakenly believed that her seat in the Senate was earned through elections, not erections.”

In the letter, she sarcastically described her “crime” as choosing competence over capitulation and the people’s mandate over private favours, poking at what she claims are widespread but unspoken practices within the corridors of power.

The letter read in part:

“Dear Distinguished Senate President Godswill Akpabio,

It is with the deepest sarcasm and utmost theatrical regret that I tender this apology for the grievous crime of possessing dignity and self-respect in your most exalted presence. I have reflected extensively on my unforgivable failure to recognize that legislative success in certain quarters is apparently not earned through merit, but through the ancient art of compliance — of the very personal kind.

How remiss of me not to understand that my refusal to indulge your… ‘requests’ was not merely a personal choice but a constitutional violation of the unwritten laws of certain men’s entitlement. Truly, I must apologize for prioritizing competence over capitulation, vision over vanity and the people’s mandate over private dinners behind closed doors.

I now realize the catastrophic consequences of my actions: legislation delayed, tempers flared and the tragic bruising of egos so large they require their own postcodes. For this disruption to the natural order of ‘quid pro quo,’ I bow my head in fictional shame.

Please find it in your magnanimous heart — somewhere buried deep beneath layers of entitlement — to forgive this stubborn woman who mistakenly believed that her seat in the Senate was earned through elections, not erections.

I remain,

Yours in eternal resistance,

Senator Natasha H. Akpoti-Uduaghan

Unafraid, Unbought and Unbroken.”

The rift between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio traces back to July 2024, when during a Senate session, Akpabio rebuked her effort to speak without formal recognition, stating, “We are not in a nightclub.” The remark was heavily criticized as sexist, igniting nationwide outrage and calls for an apology.

Although Akpabio later claimed he meant no offense and expressed respect for women, relations between the two further deteriorated. By February 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan formally accused the Senate President of sexual harassment, citing inappropriate remarks and advances — an allegation Senate leadership dismissed on procedural grounds.

Read also: Police Launch Probe into Senator Natasha’s Assassination Allegation Against Akpabio

Her subsequent six-month suspension from the Senate, ostensibly over unrelated issues, was widely interpreted by the public as a politically motivated attempt to silence her. The move triggered nationwide protests under the hashtag #WeAreAllNatasha, with women’s rights groups and civic organizations rallying behind her.

While some groups, such as the Kogi Patriotic Consultative Assembly, urged her to apologize and “move on,” many Nigerians have lauded Akpoti-Uduaghan for standing her ground against what they see as entrenched misogyny and abuse of power.

Akpabio, for his part, has consistently denied all allegations, dismissing them as “baseless” and “malicious,” and has hinted at possible legal action for defamation.

As the fallout continues, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s bold, satirical letter appears to have reinforced her image as a courageous and unyielding voice confronting the entrenched norms of Nigeria’s political establishment.