Amidst the ongoing controversy surrounding allegations of sexual harassment, the Senate has passed a vote of confidence in Senate President Godswill Akpabio, reaffirming its support for his leadership.
The vote of confidence was passed following a motion moved by Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central), and seconded by Deputy Minority Leader, Sen. Olalere Oyewumi (Osun West), during its Thursday plenary.
Persecondnews reports that the decision comes 48 hours after the suspended Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central), addressed the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in New York, claiming she was suspended for raising allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio.
Akpoti-Uduaghan has also filed contempt charges against Akpabio and others over her six-month suspension without pay from the Senate.
The Senate, during its Thursday plenary, urged Nigerians not to be distracted by the allegations, emphasizing that the matter is already before the court.
Citing Order 40 of its Standing Rules, the Senate declared that it cannot intervene in matters already under judicial consideration.
Persecondnews had reported that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan appeared on Arise TV’s ‘Morning Show’ in Abuja on Friday February 28, where she alleged rejection of sexual advances from Akpabio as the real issue between them.
During the interview, monitored by Persecondnews, she alleged that the Senate President made unwanted sexual advances towards her.
The lawmaker claimed that she received intimate calls from Akpabio in the dead of the night, which she countered by involving her husband and putting the conversations on speaker.
According to her allegations, Akpabio’s unwanted advances and her refusal to reciprocate have led to the hostility and antagonism she faces.
Prior to the interview, tensions flared in the Senate on Thursday, February 20, after Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan refused to relinquish her seat to opposition members who had defected to the majority wing.
In a bold show of defiance, the Kogi senator raised her voice, accusing the leadership of silencing her.
She took a direct jab at Akpabio saying: “I do not care if I am silenced. I am not afraid of you. You have denied me my privilege.”
The Senate, considering her outburst as “disorderly conduct” on the chamber floor, tasked its Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions to investigate and report back.
In a bid to halt the investigation, the embattled Senator secured a court restraining order on Tuesday, March 4, against the committee.
The committee disregarded the restraining order, proceeded with the investigation, and submitted its report to the Senate, which ultimately led to her suspension on March 6.
Dissatisfied with her suspension, she took her case to the Inter-Parliamentary Union(IPU) Meeting at the United Nations in New York, US, on March 12.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who addressed the Women in Parliament session of the IPU, is seeking justice and intervention from global democratic institutions, alleging that her suspension from the Senate was illegal and unjust.
She alleged that her suspension was a direct result of filing a petition against Akpabio, claiming it was an unlawful attempt to silence her.
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