ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria’s Senate has rejected allegations by Senator Adams Oshiomhole that signatures were forged in the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, calling the claim “strange” and pledging to investigate.
Oshiomhole, who represents Edo North, said in a televised interview that some senators’ names were wrongly included in the Ethics and Public Petitions Committee report recommending Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension. He cited Senator Ireti Kingibe of the Federal Capital Territory, claiming she told him she signed only the attendance register, not the suspension report.
Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu dismissed the allegation, insisting no senator had raised objections during plenary. “Nobody will say that he or she was coerced or somebody’s signature was forged; that has never happened in the Senate and it cannot happen,” Adaramodu said. He added that the matter was debated openly “in the full glare of every Nigerian and even the international audience.”
Adaramodu said the Senate would probe Oshiomhole’s remarks to establish their veracity.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, was suspended earlier this month following a heated dispute over alleged misconduct during committee proceedings. Her suspension sparked controversy, with critics accusing the Senate of silencing dissenting voices. Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State and ex-national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has positioned himself as one of her defenders.
Forgery allegations strike at the heart of legislative credibility in Nigeria, where public trust in institutions is already fragile.
On social media, Nigerians expressed mixed views. “If senators’ signatures can be forged, then democracy is in danger,” one user wrote on X. Another countered: “Oshiomhole is playing politics; the Senate is bigger than one person’s claims.”
Constitutional lawyers said the allegation, if proven, could amount to criminal forgery. “It would undermine the legitimacy of Senate resolutions and could trigger judicial intervention,” a Lagos-based attorney noted.
Lawmakers from opposition parties urged transparency. “The Senate must clear the air quickly. Nigerians deserve to know if their representatives’ signatures were misused,” said one PDP senator.
Governance advocates warned that the controversy highlights the need for stronger internal checks. “Electronic verification of signatures could prevent disputes like this,” suggested a civil society leader.
Analysts argued the episode reflects broader concerns about accountability. “This is not just about Natasha or Oshiomhole. It’s about whether Nigerians can trust the Senate to act transparently,” said a political commentator.
