Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has publicly retreated from his earlier allegation that the signatures of at least three lawmakers were forged or improperly included in the report that recommended the six‑month suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti‑Uduaghan. In a statement issued on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, Oshiomhole described the widespread interpretation of his remarks as a “complete misrepresentation” of what he actually said, and aligned himself fully with the Senate’s official position that no senator’s signature was falsified.
The controversy erupted on Monday, June 15, when Oshiomhole appeared on Africa Independent Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme. During the interview, he claimed that some senators whose names appeared on the Ethics Committee report had privately told him they neither signed the document nor endorsed its findings. He specifically mentioned Senator Ireti Kingibe of the Federal Capital Territory, saying she had expressed surprise at seeing her name listed. “The committee does a hearing; members are expected to sign the report to endorse it. If you don’t agree, you can abstain. But some said they didn’t sign, yet their names were published,” Oshiomhole had said.
The Senate swiftly rejected the allegation. In a statement on Tuesday, June 16, the Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, dismissed the claim as “very strange” and insisted that no senator’s signature was forged. “If Senator Kingibe had anything against any procedure, she would report it on the floor of the senate, not to an individual,” Adaramodu said. He added that he was a member of the committee that handled the matter and that no coercion or forgery took place. The Senate leadership also indicated it would review Oshiomhole’s comments to determine an appropriate response.
On Tuesday evening, Oshiomhole issued a lengthy clarification, effectively walking back his earlier remarks. “My attention has been brought to an obvious misrepresentation of the statement I made during the course of my interview on AIT ‘Politics Today’ broadcast on Monday 15th June 2026,” he said. “The insinuation that I said signatures of Senators were forged is a complete misrepresentation of what I actually said.” He explained that his only comment was that a member of the committee had claimed that the attendance signatures of some senators were attached to the final report. “The only comment I made is that one Senator, who is a member of the Committee, ‘claimed’ that the signatures of attendance of some Senators were attached to the final report,” he said. He stressed that no senator had complained to him that his or her signature was forged, and that any suggestion otherwise should be disregarded.
Oshiomhole expressed full agreement with the Senate spokesperson’s position. “I agree absolutely with the spokesperson of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Yemi Adaramodu, that no signature of Senators was forged in Natasha Akpoti’s suspension,” he said. He also expressed regret over the fallout from his earlier comments, stating, “Finally, I regret if my comments may have caused embarrassment to any Senator or the 10th Senate as an institution.” Oshiomhole further clarified that the context of his remarks was a discussion about Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele’s description of the suspension as the “lowest point of the 3 years of the 10th Senate,” and that he had merely responded that if the Senate Leader indeed said so, it should be taken seriously because Bamidele is “not given to frivolities.”
Senator Natasha Akpoti‑Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, was suspended in March 2025 following allegations of gross misconduct and unruly behaviour after a dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The disciplinary action barred her from the National Assembly complex, halted her salary and allowances, and led to the sealing of her office. The suspension became one of the most controversial decisions of the 10th Senate, attracting criticism from civil society groups and opposition politicians.
With Oshiomhole’s clarification, the Senate leadership has effectively closed the matter, though the episode has renewed scrutiny of the chamber’s internal procedures and the transparency of its disciplinary processes. The senator’s U‑turn also underscores the sensitivity of allegations that could undermine the credibility of the Senate’s decisions, particularly as the 2027 election cycle approaches.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com ✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments