On Thursday, the Senate passed a vote of confidence in the leadership of Senate President Godswill Akpabio amid ongoing drama in the Red Chamber.
Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, under Orders 40 and 51, moved a motion regarding the recent controversy surrounding the upper chamber. He emphasized the need for clarity, adherence to legislative rules, and a renewed focus on governance.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, was suspended by the Senate for lack of adherence to the Senate standing order. She claimed that her suspension stems from allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. She described her suspension as an injustice and reported the matter to the United Nations Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on Tuesday.
In response to her complaint to the IPU on Wednesday, the Senate clarified to the international body that Senator Natasha’s suspension was not related to her allegations of sexual abuse against Akpabio but was due to gross misconduct and disobedience to Senate rules.
Speaking on the Senate floor, Senator Bamidele acknowledged the heightened public interest in the matter due to the allegations made by a fellow senator. However, he maintained that the Senate had not been informed of any sexual harassment claims between August 2023 and the present. He stressed that the issue at hand was solely about disciplinary measures related to breaches of Senate rules.
He stated, “I want to make it clear that the matter referred to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges had nothing to do with sexual harassment. The Senate President did not preside over any case related to such allegations. What was addressed was a flagrant disregard for Senate rules, and we followed due process as guided by the Constitution.”
Senator Bamidele further defended the Senate’s authority to regulate its proceedings, including the decision to suspend a senator, asserting that such actions were necessary to maintain order and uphold legislative integrity. He refuted claims that the Senate acted beyond its constitutional rights, noting that suspension remains the only alternative to anarchy within the chamber.
“It was never an issue before us that any member was sexually harassed, and we hold firmly to that point. We need to move past the events of the last two weeks and concentrate on our work. We have made every effort to ensure that electoral reforms and other critical issues receive legislative attention.”
Regarding international reactions, he clarified that the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) acted within its own rules. Any statements made by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan during the IPU meeting were done in a personal capacity and not as a designated delegate representing Nigeria.
