ABUJA — Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, has officially retracted his recent suggestions that signatures were forged or improperly used in the report that led to the 2025 suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, the former Edo State Governor clarified that his comments during an AIT Politics Today interview on June 15 had been misrepresented. Oshiomhole stated unequivocally that he agrees with the Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, that no signatures were forged during the disciplinary process against the Senator representing Kogi Central.

Setting the Record Straight

Oshiomhole emphasized that no lawmaker had personally approached him to complain about a forged signature. He explained that his earlier remarks were a response to an interviewer’s claim regarding the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who had reportedly described the suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan as the "lowest point" of the 10th Senate's three-year tenure.

"The insinuation that I said signatures of Senators were forged is a complete misrepresentation of what I actually said," Oshiomhole noted. "The only comment I made is that one Senator, who is a member of the Committee, 'claimed' that the signatures of attendance of some Senators were attached to the final report."

The Senator expressed regret for any embarrassment his initial comments may have caused to individual colleagues or the Senate as an institution. He maintained that, as far as he is concerned, the matter regarding Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension has been put to rest and the Senate has moved on.

Context of the Controversy

The controversy stems from a high-profile disciplinary action in March 2025, where Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months due to allegations of gross misconduct and unruly behavior. Her suspension followed a series of public confrontations with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, resulting in her being barred from the National Assembly complex, the withholding of her salary and allowances, and the sealing of her office at the time.

Oshiomhole’s original interview had suggested that at least three senators had privately claimed they did not endorse the report recommending her suspension. By retracting these claims, Oshiomhole seeks to align himself with the Senate’s official position, aiming to neutralize the internal friction sparked by his initial interview remarks.