Abuja, Nigeria – Senate President Godswill Akpabio issued a public apology on Tuesday to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, after comparing her conduct in the Senate to that of a nightclub.
The incident occurred during last Thursday’s plenary session when Akpoti-Uduaghan commented on a motion without obtaining permission from the Senate President, in violation of the Senate standing order. In an attempt to correct her, Akpabio remarked that the Senate is not a nightclub where “anybody can talk anyhow.”
This comment sparked a backlash on social media, with many Nigerians criticizing Akpabio for his choice of words.
Presiding over Tuesday’s plenary, Akpabio expressed regret for his remarks and emphasized that he did not intend to insult Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
“Distinguished Senator Natasha, I want to apologise to you. I will not intentionally denigrate any woman, and I always pray that God will uplift women,” Akpabio stated. “The interest shown in the social media shows that we have enemies. I felt I should tender a public apology to you. I do not mean any harm. People should concentrate on things that will move this country forward.”
Addressing the issue of social media reactions, Akpabio added, “Social media handlers should practice with decorum. We won’t, out of anger, regulate social media.”
