Nigeria’s political establishment has rarely been short of controversy, but the volume of sexual misconduct allegations swirling around President Bola Tinubu’s inner circle in recent months deserves serious attention. Three prominent figures — all vocal loyalists of the president — have each faced damaging claims that have played out in public, in the courts, and across social media. Here is what we know.
None of these cases has resulted in a criminal conviction, and in Umahi’s case the complainant has formally retracted her claims. That matters, and fairness demands it be stated plainly. But the pattern itself is worth examining without flinching.
Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan: Power on the Senate Floor
Godswill Akpabio has been one of Tinubu’s most reliable legislative allies since the president took office in May 2023, shepherding key government business through the upper chamber with conspicuous loyalty. His tenure as Senate President has not been quiet. The prolonged confrontation with Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central became one of the defining controversies of the Tenth Senate, drawing condemnation from civil society groups, women’s organisations and opposition figures alike. Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Akpabio made unwanted sexual advances towards her, and that her refusal to comply marked the start of a targeted effort to undermine her position in the chamber. Akpabio has denied the allegations. The dispute escalated into formal complaints, court proceedings and a sustained media war that kept both names in the headlines for the better part of a year.
Why This Matters Beyond the Personalities
The Akpabio-Akpoti-Uduaghan saga is not simply a quarrel between two senators. It raises a direct question about whether the National Assembly — Nigeria’s primary lawmaking institution — can function as a safe and equitable workplace for its female members. If a sitting senator can allege harassment by the presiding officer of that chamber and face institutional resistance rather than institutional protection, the problem runs deeper than any individual’s conduct. That is an uncomfortable reality, but it is the correct one to confront.
Oshiomhole: A Video, a Denial and a Contradiction
Adams Oshiomhole has had a long and turbulent political career — governor of Edo State, national chairman of the APC, and now a senator. In February 2026, a video emerged that showed a man widely identified as Oshiomhole in what appeared to be an intimate moment with Leshaan Dagama, a South African influencer who produces adult content. The footage spread rapidly online and prompted immediate public comment. Oshiomhole moved quickly to distance himself, claiming the video had been fabricated using artificial intelligence. That defence did not survive contact with the subject of the footage herself. Dagama posted a blunt rebuttal on Instagram — “The video wasn’t AI, but okay, believe your Senator” — leaving the former APC chairman’s explanation in tatters. The matter has not been resolved definitively in any formal forum, but the public contradiction is on the record.
Umahi: Allegations Made, Then Withdrawn
The case involving Minister of Works David Umahi followed a different trajectory. Tracyniter Nicholas Ohiri, a businesswoman known publicly as Tracy, came forward with allegations of sexual harassment and claims that Umahi had withheld payments owed on contracts. The accusations were serious and specific. Then, within weeks, Ohiri issued a video retraction, citing guidance from her family, friends and legal team following what she described as a careful review of events. She also clarified that her earlier comments linking Umahi to threats against a group of engineers were based on secondhand information rather than direct knowledge. Retractions in cases like this are rarely straightforward, and the circumstances that produce them are not always transparent. What is clear is that the allegations were made publicly and withdrawn publicly, and the record of both stands.
A Pattern the Presidency Cannot Afford to Ignore
Three cases do not constitute a systemic crisis on their own. But three cases involving senior figures from the same political orbit, surfacing within the same administration, do constitute a pattern that demands a response more substantive than silence. The Tinubu government has said little collectively about the conduct of its allies in these matters, and the presidency’s communications team has been far more energetic in defending the president against economic criticism — such as its recent rebuttal of Labour Party’s Peter Obi over electricity generation figures — than in addressing the conduct questions surrounding its own ranks. Accountability in government is not selective. If this administration is serious about projecting competence and integrity, it cannot afford to let allegations of this nature drift into the background noise of Nigerian politics without a clear institutional response.