Fresh tensions are building within the Nigerian Senate as lawmakers prepare to reconvene on Tuesday, with indications that the upper chamber may open a formal investigation into allegations made by Senator Adams Oshiomhole concerning the controversial suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Multiple sources within the National Assembly said the matter is expected to dominate discussions during an emergency plenary session convened by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The development follows Oshiomhole’s claim that signatures of some senators were improperly attached to or appeared on the committee report that recommended the six-month suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan. He later clarified that he did not accuse lawmakers of forgery, insisting his comments had been misinterpreted.
Despite the clarification, senior senators are reportedly dissatisfied with the controversy, with some pushing for an official Senate position on the issue.
One source said the emergency session could provide an opportunity for the chamber to formally address the matter and determine its next steps.
“That explains why Akpabio called off the recess and summoned an emergency session under the guise of attending to the issue of rising insecurity across the country,” the source said.
Although the Senate leadership has not confirmed whether Oshiomhole’s comments will be formally debated, Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu indicated that the chamber would not ignore allegations that touch on its integrity.
“The Senate will take a cursory look at either extraneous, spontaneous or intentional comments from any senator appropriately. We are going to look into it and take a stand,” he said.
Adaramodu described the allegation as “spurious, bewildering and unthinkable,” adding that no senator had reported that their signature was forged during the suspension process.
He insisted that Senate proceedings are conducted openly and transparently in plenary sessions and that disciplinary decisions are taken after full debate.
Oshiomhole, in a follow-up clarification, rejected claims that he accused the Senate of forgery, saying his remarks had been taken out of context.
He stated that he was only referring to concerns raised by a committee member about attendance signatures attached to the final report.
“The insinuation that I said signatures of senators were forged is a complete misrepresentation of what I actually said,” he said.
He added that no senator had personally informed him of any forgery and expressed regret over any embarrassment caused by his comments.
The controversy has also drawn in Senator Ireti Kingibe, who said she did not have access to the report that led to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension.
Kingibe said she attended a committee session, signed the attendance register, but was away at a retreat when the report was considered.
“I never saw the report that led to Natasha’s suspension… I have not seen it till now,” she said.
Her remarks have added further complexity to the dispute, raising questions about the level of participation of some lawmakers in the process that led to the suspension.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended in March 2025 following the adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions over alleged misconduct and unruly behaviour.
The decision resulted in the withdrawal of her salaries and allowances, closure of her National Assembly office, and restriction from accessing the legislative complex for the duration of her suspension.
The matter remains one of the most contentious episodes in the current Senate, with renewed scrutiny expected as lawmakers reconvene for the emergency session.
