- The opposition party described her suspension as a desperate move by the Senate leadership to sweep the damning allegations under the carpet
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has weighed in on the sexual harassment scandal rocking Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber, the senate.
Recall that the Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused senate president, Godswill Akpabio, of sexual harassment.
Consequently, the senate on Thursday suspended her for six months, withdrew her security details and other paraphernalia of office.
However, the PDP decried her suspension, saying such decision raises questions about the integrity of the Senate.
The opposition party described her suspension as a desperate move by the Senate leadership to sweep the damning allegations under the carpet.
The party made its position known in a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, on Friday.
The PDP insisted that Akpabio must step aside to for an, independent, open and unbiased investigation into the matter.
According to the PDP, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension was rushed without a fair hearing or an independent investigation. The party argued that such action is anathema to parliamentary principles and ideals.
Furthermore, the PDP stated that suspending Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months deprives the people of Kogi Central Senatorial Zone of their right to representation in the Senate.
The PDP accused Akpabio of using his position as Senate President to block an open investigation into the allegations against him, adding that he had previously been accused of similar offence..
The PDP argued that if Akpabio had nothing to hide, he should step aside and allow a thorough investigation. The party emphasized that the allegations have now damaged the reputation of Nigeria’s National Assembly, making it necessary for the Senate President to clear his name.
Beyond the sexual harassment allegations, the PDP criticized Akpabio’s leadership, stating that his tenure as Senate President has been dogged by scandals, financial controversies, and weak oversight of the executive arm of government.
The party also reminded Nigerians that Akpabio has pending corruption allegations before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), including the alleged misappropriation of ₦108.1 billion during his tenure as Akwa Ibom State governor and an ₦86 billion contract scandal linked to the NDDC when he was Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.
The statement reads:
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemns in very strong terms the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Senate over her allegation of sexual harassment against the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The PDP asserts that the action of the Akpabio-led Senate leadership against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan smacks of a desperation to cover up.
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.
Also, the excessively harsh six months suspension on Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan translates to denying the people of Kogi Central Senatorial Zone their Constitutional right of being represented in the Senate.
It is scandalous, and amounts to gross abuse of office and violation of the fundamentals of justice and fair hearing for Senator Akpabio 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.
The PDP recalls that this would not be the first time Senator Akpabio is accused of sexual harassment. The current episode in the Senate reminds Nigerians of the allegation of sexual harassment leveled against Senator Akpabio by the former acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Joi Nunieh.
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.
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 N86 billion contract scam in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) during his tenure as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.
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.
Signed:
Hon. Debo Ologunagba
National Publicity Secretary
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