Suspension: Senator Dickson visits Natasha, says He was not part of Ethics panel decision

By Samuel Eugene

Former governor of Bayelsa State and senator representing Bayelsa West senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, said as a member of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, he was not part of the decisions that led to the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan representing Kogi Central.

The Senate last Thursday, March 6, 2025, suspended Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months following the adoption of the report of the Ethics committee.

The committee had looked into the altercation between the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on the floor penultimate week over seating arrangement.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan would later accuse Senator Akpabio of sexual harassment among others when she featured on Arise Television live programme.

But, on Friday evening, Senator Dickson, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), visited Akpoti-Uduaghan and her husband at their home in Abuja after which he provided new insights into the politics around her suspension which many saw as hasty.

Dickson said that he and others committed to peaceful resolution of the crisis would work on finding a way to reconcile the parties involved.

The former governor of Bayelsa State said that having heard more from Senator Natasha and her husband for the first time, he would discuss with other colleagues on how to intervene and engage with the leadership of the senate to resolve the issues as soon as possible

Dickson further said; “The public may recall that, for the past 3 days, I was attending the 3-day workshop on the Tax Reform Bills which started on Wednesday 5th of March and ended this evening, Friday 7th of March.

“This is why I was not available yesterday to sit as a member of the Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, Privileges and Public Petitions in respect of the issues concerning our colleague Distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan’s suspension, haven been assured by the Committee Chairman that the hearing would hold on Wednesday the 11th of March for which notices had already been issued.

“I was not notified of the emergency seating yesterday. As a result of the strong views I had already canvassed, my colleagues and I were working on the Tax Reform Bills yesterday and as such was unable to join the plenary sitting which considered the report of the Ethics Committee that deliberated and approved the suspension.

“This evening after concluding the retreat, I led a delegation of some senators of opposition parties on a visit to our colleague Senator Natasha and met with her and her husband at their home.

“Senators as humans, have their low and high moments and it is a tradition for Senators to support each other during these moments.

“We offered words of encouragement, prayers and advice on a quick resolution of the issues surrounding her suspension.”

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