ABUJA, NIGERIA— The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, has strongly dismissed media reports claiming he alleged that senators’ signatures were forged during the disciplinary proceedings that led to the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Oshiomhole, who represents Edo North under the All Progressives Congress (APC), issued a formal clarification to set the record straight following what he described as an “obvious misrepresentation” of an interview he granted to Africa Independent Television (AIT) on its program *Politics Today*.
The controversy stems from the Senate’s recent disciplinary action against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The suspension followed an investigation and subsequent report by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, which is chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen. Rumors quickly circulated that the report’s validity was compromised by forged signatures, a claim that some media outlets attributed directly to Oshiomhole’s televised remarks.
In his explanatory statement, the former Edo State governor made it clear that he never used the word “forgery” nor did he intend to cast doubt on the integrity of the committee’s findings. He emphasized that no member of the upper legislative chamber had ever approached him with a complaint regarding falsified signatures. Instead, Oshiomhole clarified that his actual comment during the broadcast merely repeated an observation made by a colleague on the ethics committee. According to him, that particular senator had simply claimed that the attendance sheets from previous committee meetings were attached to the final disciplinary report, rather than a fresh set of signatures being collected specifically for the endorsement of the final document.
Stepping forward to realign himself with the official stance of the Red Chamber, Oshiomhole stated that he completely agrees with Senate Spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, who previously affirmed that the entire process was transparent and free of any fraudulent activity. He urged the public and the media to completely disregard any narratives suggesting internal division or criminal misconduct within the legislature over the matter.
Furthermore, Oshiomhole explained the exact context of his dialogue on air, noting that the television interviewer had brought up a comment by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who allegedly described the Akpoti-Uduaghan suspension saga as the “lowest point” of the 10th Senate’s three-year tenure. Oshiomhole noted that his response on the show—stating that the Senate Leader’s words should be taken seriously because he is not someone given to trivialities—was an acknowledgment of the gravity of the institutional situation, not an endorsement of any forgery allegations.
Concluding his statement, the lawmaker expressed deep regret for any unintended embarrassment or distraction his televised comments may have caused his colleagues or the 10th Senate as a whole. He maintained that the disciplinary matter regarding the Kogi Central senator has been fully resolved administratively, and emphasized that the legislative body has firmly moved on to focus on pressing national assignments.