The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on President Bola Tinubu to step in and resolve the escalating rift between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In a statement released on Saturday and signed by its National Vice President, Sileola Akinbodunse, NANS warned that the ongoing clash, if left unchecked, could spiral into an international embarrassment for Nigeria.
“The National Assembly is a key organ of government, meant to be occupied by exemplary and forthright representatives of the people,” the statement read. “The face-off between Senators Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Godswill Akpabio should not be allowed to fester.”
Akinbodunse urged both lawmakers to set aside their differences for the sake of peace, stressing that political disputes should not overshadow national governance.
The controversy began when Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, during an interview on Arise TV, accused Akpabio of making sexual advances towards her and using his position to intimidate her. She compared her experience to that of a student being penalized for refusing to sleep with a lecturer.
Akpabio, through his media consultant, Kenny Okulogbo, dismissed the allegations as “baseless and fictitious lies.”
While acknowledging that Akpoti-Uduaghan is yet to provide concrete evidence, NANS insisted that the matter should be thoroughly investigated to determine the truth.
The student body also issued a warning, stating that if the dispute is not resolved promptly, they would not hesitate to stage a protest at the National Assembly.
With tensions mounting, all eyes are now on President Tinubu to see whether he will step in and broker peace between the warring senators.