Protesters under the platform of Women for Change Vanguard took the lingering face-off between Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Kogi lawmaker, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, to the United Nations office in Abuja on Friday.

Chanting solidarity songs and displaying several banners that read ‘We believe in actual victims of sexual harassment, not people who weaponise it’ and ‘The burden of proof lies with the accuser”, the protesters challenged Akpoti-Uduaghan to provide evidence of the alleged sexual harassment she accused Akpabio of

The protest comes barely 24 hours after the Kogi Central senator filed a contempt charge against Akpabio and others over her six-month suspension without pay from the Senate.

Recall that Akpoti-Uduaghan had escalated her dispute with Akpabio, presenting her case at a United Nations forum, International Parliamentary Union, alleging political victimisation.

She was suspended on March 6 after a heated confrontation with the Senate leadership over a new seating arrangement, which she claimed was designed to undermine her.

Tensions intensified when Akpoti-Uduaghan, on national television, accused Akpabio of punishing her for rejecting his alleged s3xual advances.

Addressing the representatives of the United Nations in Abuja, the leader of the protesters, Irene Umoh, explained that the women’s group decided to petition the UN on Friday following the manner in which Akpoti-Uduaghan has been trying to play the victim on the international stage.

Umoh also charged the global organisation to ask the suspended legislator to provide the world with credible evidence of the alleged s3xual harassment.

She said, “This is not the first time Senator Natasha has made serious allegations against a prominent figure. Such actions risk becoming a weapon she wields against men in power, undermining the core principles of our fight against sexual violence.

“As mothers and members of the Women for Change Vanguard, we are acutely aware of the implications of false accusations. Such claims not only harm the accused but also diminish the experiences of genuine survivors.

Umoh also charged the global organisation to ask the suspended legislator to provide the world with credible evidence of the alleged s3xual harassment.

She said, “This is not the first time Senator Natasha has made serious allegations against a prominent figure. Such actions risk becoming a weapon she wields against men in power, undermining the core principles of our fight against sexual violence.

“As mothers and members of the Women for Change Vanguard, we are acutely aware of the implications of false accusations. Such claims not only harm the accused but also diminish the experiences of genuine survivors.

The Rivers State House of Assembly has endorsed three new bills aimed at shaping the state’s governance structure.

The bills were passed during the Assembly’s 136th Legislative Sitting on Friday and will be sent to Governor Siminalayi Fubara for approval.

The approved bills include the Rivers State House of Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Bill, 2025, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) Bill, 2025, and the Rivers State Local Government Bill, 2025.

The Powers and Privileges Bill seeks to give the Assembly certain rights and protections to carry out its duties without interference.

The RSIEC Bill will replace the 2018 electoral law and set new guidelines for the state’s electoral body in line with the 2022 Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.

The Local Government Bill will replace previous laws from 2018, 2023, and 2024, introducing a new framework for managing local government councils.

Speaker Martin Chike Amaewhule explained that the House was adopting parts of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act of 2017, which grants lawmakers certain authorities in carrying out their duties.

He also noted the need for the RSIEC Bill to align with national electoral laws, while the Local Government Bill was crafted to ensure compliance with constitutional provisions.

After discussions, members of the Assembly agreed on the importance of the bills and gave their approval.

Rivers Assembly Adjourns Plenary Indefinitely
The fresh budget presentation scheduled for Wednesday March 19 may have suffered a setback as the Rivers State House of Assembly has adjourned its plenary indefinitely.

This decision, made during a session held at the assembly quarters in Port Harcourt on Friday, has raised concerns about the fate of the 2025 Appropriation Bill.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara had earlier written to the Assembly, requesting a new date for the budget presentation after his initial attempt on March 12 was unsuccessful.

He and his entourage were reportedly locked out of the Assembly Complex, despite prior notice of his visit.

In his latest letter, dated March 13, the governor proposed presenting the budget on March 19 or any other convenient date within the month.

He reminded the lawmakers that the Supreme Court, in a ruling on February 28, had directed the presentation of the budget to the Assembly.

Bashir El-Rufai, the son of ex- Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has begged Nigerians following backlash over his controversial comment on X (formerly Twitter).

Bashir, known for his brash social media presence, had posted a controversial remark suggesting that the killings in Southern Kaduna would persist if residents continued to attack Fulani herdsmen.

It is your stupid mother that is an elephant. And Southern Kaduna residents will keep seeing sheghe (trouble or suffering) if they continue to attack indigenous Fulani herdsmen.

” Oloshi,” Bashir wrote in response to an X user, @qykali, who had accused his father of overseeing “industrial-scale ethnic cleansing” in the region during his tenure as governor.

The term sheghe (shege)—a Hausa slang implying severe suffering—was perceived as an endorsement of violence, igniting outrage from many Nigerians who saw it as an attempt to justify the recurring massacres in Southern Kaduna, where suspected herdsmen have repeatedly attacked communities.

Following the backlash, Bashir deleted the tweet and later offered an apology, admitting that his initial post was “in bad taste.”

My tweet about Southern Kaduna residents & persecuted Fulani herdsmen was in bad taste & also badly written in an attempt to make a point in the heat of the moment. I apologize for that to those that know me, and are aware that I don’t harbor such sentiments,” he wrote on X.