Abuja, Nigeria — March 2025
A tense drama unfolded at the National Assembly in March 2025 during a public sitting of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, when Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi of Ebonyi North Senatorial District engaged in a fiery verbal altercation with former Minister of Education and renowned accountability advocate, Dr. Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili.
The session, convened to address explosive sexual harassment allegations made by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, drew intense national interest. The hearing was attended by lawyers, journalists, civil society leaders, and women’s rights advocates, and was widely regarded as a watershed moment in Nigeria’s legislative accountability process.
As the proceedings got underway, Senator Nwebonyi, a first-term senator known for his strong rhetoric, announced his readiness to testify before the committee. In doing so, he dismissed the petitioners’ preparedness, claiming that their submission lacked coordination and seriousness. The statement triggered immediate reactions from members of the public gallery.
Dr. Ezekwesili, who was attending the hearing as a public observer and advocate for women’s rights, interjected sharply:
“Shut up, Senator! This isn’t your platform to bully women!”
The unexpected rebuke sparked audible murmurs in the chamber, prompting Senator Nwebonyi to retaliate angrily:
“You are an insult to womanhood. People like you can never be here!”
The chamber quickly descended into tension, with committee officials attempting to restore order. Eyewitnesses reported visible discomfort among those present, with several senators exchanging uneasy glances. The incident was captured on video and quickly circulated online, going viral on social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube, and igniting national debate under trending hashtags such as #NwebonyiVsEzekwesili and #ProtectWomenInPolitics.
In the hours that followed, Senator Nwebonyi stood firmly by his remarks. In a Vanguard interview, he declared:
“I was provoked by her unruly behavior. No one, regardless of their past positions, has the right to come into the Senate and insult elected representatives.”
He went further to accuse Ezekwesili of “seeking relevance through drama”, claiming her remarks were uncalled for and disruptive to the proceedings. (Vanguard News)
Dr. Ezekwesili, responding via Punch Newspapers, remained unapologetic. She expressed satisfaction with the exchange, noting that the moment had drawn urgent attention to the systemic challenges women face in Nigerian political spaces.
“I’m pleased the incident happened. It has forced a national conversation on how women are treated, silenced, and disrespected when they demand accountability. Senator Nwebonyi simply revealed the deeply misogynistic mindset many still hold.”
She emphasized that her presence was legal and legitimate, adding that “the fight for justice and women’s dignity requires bold confrontation.”
Public opinion has remained sharply divided. The Nigeria Women Trust Fund (NWTF) condemned Senator Nwebonyi’s statement as “clear gender-based verbal abuse” and demanded a public apology. Similarly, prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) described the exchange as:
“A symptom of the entrenched culture of impunity and gender intolerance in Nigerian politics.”
He urged the National Assembly to uphold standards of decorum and allow the harassment petition to be handled transparently and fairly.
Watchdog group SERAP (Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project) also joined the fray, calling on the Senate to issue formal guidelines for behavior in sensitive hearings involving allegations of abuse, and to avoid suppressing dissenting voices, especially from civil society leaders.
Despite mounting pressure, the Senate leadership has remained silent, failing to issue a statement or reprimand either party. This silence has drawn criticism from various corners, with commentators accusing the legislative body of lacking moral courage.
As of the end of March 2025, the Senate Committee on Ethics has not released its report on the sexual harassment allegations, and no disciplinary action has been taken against Senator Nwebonyi for his comments.
Nonetheless, the clash between Senator Nwebonyi and Dr. Ezekwesili has become one of the most discussed political scandals of the year, reigniting conversations about misogyny, political accountability, and respect for civil society voices within Nigeria’s legislative ecosystem.
