The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as a desperate attempt to cover up allegations of sexual harassment against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, described the suspension without an open investigation into her claims against the Senate President as hasty and a blatant violation of parliamentary principles.
It said, “The party observes that the hasty suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan without an open investigation into the weighty allegation of sexual 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.”
According to the PDP, the senator’s six-month suspension effectively denies the people of Kogi Central Senatorial Zone their constitutional right to be represented in the Senate.
The statement said, “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 sexual 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 sexual 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 sexual 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.
The party recalled that this was not the first time Akpabio had been accused of sexual harassment, referencing allegations made against him by Dr Joi Nunieh, former acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The PDP described the situation as a national embarrassment, stressing that Akpabio’s alleged involvement in such a case had tarnished the reputation of the Senate.
“Ordinarily under this situation, the Senate President needs no prodding to step aside for an independent investigation to clear his name,” the PDP said.
The party also accused the Senate leadership of being embroiled in multiple scandals since Akpabio assumed office, including allegations of financial impropriety and failing to hold the executive accountable.
It said that the suspension denied her the right to a fair hearing, and suggested that the Senate condones inappropriate behaviour by its leadership.
Furthermore, the PDP reminded Nigerians of pending investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into allegations of corruption against Akpabio during his tenure as Governor of Akwa Ibom State and as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.
“Moreover, Nigerians can recall that there are pending investigations before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegation of looting of N108.1 billion belonging to Akwa Ibom State under Senator Akpabio’s watch as Governor as well as alleged N86billion contract scam in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) during his tenure as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs,” the statement read.
With protests already erupting at the National Assembly over Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, the PDP urged the Senate to restore its credibility by reinstating her and allowing an open investigation into the matter.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, has attributed her recent challenges in the Senate to her refusal to comply with sexual advances made by Akpabio.
In an interview with Arise Television on February 28, Akpoti-Uduaghan, who had been in the news the previous week following a public altercation with Akpabio, provided her side of the story.
The issue started on February 27, when Akpoti-Uduaghan discovered that her seat in the Senate had been moved without her consent, leading to her frustration and a brief disruption of Senate proceedings.
Following this, she was referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for disciplinary action..
During a hearing on the matter at the National Assembly on Wednesday, Senator Neda Imaseun, who led the committee, revealed that the harassment petition Akpoti-Uduaghan had filed against Akpabio was dismissed.
The Edo South Senator stated the petition was “dead on arrival” due to a violation of Order 40 of the Senate Standing Orders.
In a new twist, when presenting the committee’s report on Thursday, Akpabio announced that Natasha had been suspended for six months for breaching Senate rules. I
In response, the Kogi Central lawmaker declared that she would not accept the injustice.
