The Peoples Democratic Party has condemned the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
Natasha was suspended from the Senate over a clash with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
The clash started over a seat re-arrangement.
In a statement issued today, Friday, 7th of March, 2025 and signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP stated that the actions taken by the Akpabio-led Senate leadership against Akpoti appear to be an attempt to cover up the issue.
Akpoti who represents Kogi Central, has attributed her recent challenges in the Senate to her refusal to comply with s8xual advances made by Akpabio.
PDP in its statement, said, “The party observes that the hasty suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan without an open investigation into the weighty allegation of s8xual harassment against the Senate President not only negates the principle of fair hearing especially in parliamentary convention but also portrays the Senate as an institution that endorses, condones and offers protection to reprobacy.”
The statement continued; “It is scandalous, and amounts to gross abuse of office and violation of the fundamentals of justice and fair hearing to sit as a judge in a matter in which he is the accused; a situation which validates public apprehension of a desperation by the embattled Senate President to suppress open legislative probe into the allegation of s8xual harassment leveled against him.
“If Senator Akpabio has nothing to hide, what Nigerians expected of him was to clear his name by stepping aside in line with established parliamentary practice, allow and submit to an open and unbiased investigation into the allegation of sexual harassment by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
“It is indeed a national embarrassment that the person of the Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly is being mentioned in a case of s8xual harassment which has now tarred the image and integrity of the highest lawmaking body in Nigeria. Ordinarily, under this situation, the Senate President needs no prodding to step aside for an independent investigation to clear his name.
“More distressing is the fact that since Senator Akpabio assumed office as the Senate President, the leadership of the Senate has been largely unfocused and constantly embroiled in scandals including allegations of financial impropriety as well as negligence and abdication of its constitutional duty of checks and balances to the excesses of the Executive Arm to the detriment of millions of Nigerians.”
The party further urged the Senate to redeem its image and integrity by restoring Akpoti-Uduaghan and ensuring an open investigation into the matter.
“Given the height of public anxiety on this allegation of s8xual harassment which has already escalated into protests at the National Assembly, the PDP urges the Senate to redeem its image and integrity by immediately reinstating Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and ensuring an open investigation into the matter,” it added.
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Politics