A heated exchange occurred during a Senate committee hearing on ethics, privileges, and public petitions between former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, and Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, representing Ebonyi North. The confrontation unfolded as the committee reviewed a new petition submitted by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Ezekwesili attended the hearing alongside Abiola Akiode, counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan, and Zubairu Yakubu, the petitioner. During the proceedings, tensions escalated when Nwaebonyi interrupted Ezekwesili, leading her to admonish him to “shut up” and “compose yourself.” In response, Nwaebonyi retorted, accusing Ezekwesili of being “an insult to womanhood.”
This incident is part of an ongoing controversy involving Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who previously accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment. The Senate had dismissed her petition and subsequently suspended her for six months, actions that Ezekwesili has publicly criticized as a “vicious abuse of power” and a threat to democracy and gender inclusion.
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Ezekwesili has been vocal in her support for Akpoti-Uduaghan, urging the Senate to reconvene and address what she describes as an injustice. She emphasizes the need for transparency and accountability within the legislative body, advocating for the immediate reinstatement of Akpoti-Uduaghan and a thorough investigation into her allegations against Akpabio.
The recent altercation between Ezekwesili and Nwaebonyi underscores the heightened tensions and divisions within the Senate regarding the handling of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s case. It also highlights broader concerns about the treatment of female lawmakers and the imperative for equitable representation and respect within Nigeria’s legislative processes.