Adams Oshiomhole, the senator representing Edo North, has clarified his earlier remarks regarding the suspension of Kogi Central senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, stating that he never alleged that any senator’s signature was forged in the process that led to her suspension.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Oshiomhole said his comments during an interview on AIT’s Politics Today on June 15, 2026, had been misconstrued.

According to him, reports suggesting that he accused Senate officials of forging lawmakers’ signatures were inaccurate.

“The insinuation that I said signatures of senators were forged is a complete misrepresentation of what I actually said,” Oshiomhole stated.

The former Edo State governor said he fully agreed with Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu, who had maintained that no senator’s signature was forged during the proceedings that culminated in Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension.

“I agree absolutely with the spokesperson of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Yemi Adaramodu, that no signature of senators was forged in Natasha Akpoti’s suspension. This is because no senator complained to me that his or her signature was forged,” he said.

Oshiomhole explained that his observation was limited to a claim allegedly made by a member of the committee that handled the matter, who suggested that attendance signatures of some senators were attached to the committee’s final report.

“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,” he said.

He stressed that he never accused anyone of forging signatures and urged the public to disregard interpretations suggesting otherwise.

“Any suggestion to the effect that I alleged that any senator’s signature was forged is completely untrue and should be disregarded,” he added.

The lawmaker further noted that the Senate had since moved beyond the controversy surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension.

“As far as I am concerned, the issue of suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been put to rest and the Senate has since moved on,” he said.

Oshiomhole explained that his comments were made in response to remarks attributed to Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who reportedly described Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension as the “lowest point” in the first three years of the 10th Senate.

He said he merely noted that such a statement would deserve attention if it was indeed made by the Senate leader.

The senator reiterated that no lawmaker had informed him that their signature was forged and expressed regret over the controversy generated by his earlier remarks.

“Once again, I emphasise that no senator told me that his or her signature was forged,” he said.

“Finally, I regret if my comments may have caused embarrassment to any senator or the 10th Senate as an institution.”

Oshiomhole’s clarification follows his earlier interview on AIT, during which he suggested that the signatures of at least three senators may have been improperly included in the committee report that recommended Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended in March 2025 over allegations of gross misconduct and unruly behaviour linked to her persistent accusations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The suspension barred her from the National Assembly complex, suspended her salaries and allowances, and led to the closure of her office.