
Engr Ike Chidolue, the immediate past Texas State Chairman of the Nigerian-American Public Affairs Committee (NAPAC Texas), has issued a sharp public statement calling on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to either present evidence backing her many sensational allegations or resign from the Nigerian Senate.
Chidolueβs remarks come in response to the Senatorβs recent Facebook post, in which she dismissed a viral May 1 Facebook Live broadcast by Dr. Sandra Duru (also known as Prof. Mgbeke) as βmanipulatedβ and βpolitically motivated.β The broadcast featured audio recordings and screenshots that appear to contradict Senator Akpoti-Uduaghanβs public denials on several matters.
βHer post offered no facts, no forensics, and certainly no credibility,β Chidolue said. βWhat it does offer, unfortunately, is a continuation of a now familiar pattern: sensational allegations, quickly recycled into conspiracy claims once confronted with inconvenient evidence.β
According to Chidolue, if the materials presented by Dr. Duru are authentic, they paint a troubling picture of a public official weaponizing unproven accusations for political mileage, then pivoting to deflection as soon as her narrative begins to unravel.
He outlined the long list of claims made by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghanβnone of which, he said, have been backed by verifiable evidence. These include:
Accusations of sexual harassment by Senate President Godswill Akpabio;
Claims that former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello was contracted to assassinate her;
Allegations that the Akpabios were involved in the 2021 death of a minor;
Assertions that her reassignment on the Senate floor was punishment for rejecting advances;
Complaints that her bills and motions were deliberately blocked;
And claims that she was denied travel approvals, forcing her to self-fund statutory assignments.
βNot one of these claims has been substantiated by a police report, sworn affidavit, Senate resolution, or authenticated document,β Chidolue emphasized. βAnd when confronted with contradictory evidence, the Senatorβs response has been predictableβattack the source, dismiss the proof, and shift the goalposts.β
He called for a four-step course of action to restore credibility:
1. Authenticate or refute Dr. Duruβs recordings through an independent forensic labβpublicly.
2. Present evidence to back every claimβpolice reports, court filings, Senate records.
3. Seek legal redress if defamedβNigeria has courts, not just cameras.
4. Failing all else, tender a public apology and vacate the Senate seat.
βLet it be said plainlyβNigeriaβs public institutions are not theatres for trial-by-sentiment,β Chidolue stated. βWhen elected leaders make explosive claims, they owe the public facts, not theatrics. Nigerians deserve better than conjecture and drama. The time for storytelling has expired. The burden is now hersβevidence or exit.β
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