The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has criticized the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Senate following her sexual harassment allegation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In a press statement, the PDP described the action as a desperate attempt to suppress the allegations and shield the Senate President from accountability. The party expressed concern that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, without a fair and open investigation, undermines parliamentary ethics and denies the people of Kogi Central their constitutional right to representation.
“The hasty decision to suspend Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan without investigating the weighty allegations against Senator Akpabio not only violates the principle of fair hearing but also portrays the Senate as an institution that condones misconduct,” the statement read.
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The PDP recalled that this is not the first time Akpabio has faced accusations of sexual harassment, citing a previous allegation by former acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr. Joi Nunieh. The party argued that instead of presiding over a matter in which he is the accused, Akpabio should have stepped aside in line with parliamentary conventions and allowed an independent inquiry.
The statement further accused the Akpabio-led Senate of lacking focus and being mired in controversies, including allegations of financial mismanagement. The PDP referenced ongoing investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, into the alleged looting of N108.1 billion during Akpabio’s tenure as Akwa Ibom State Governor, as well as an N86 billion contract scandal linked to his time as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.
With public protests erupting at the National Assembly over the issue, the PDP insisted that the Senate must act swiftly to restore its integrity. The party demanded the immediate reinstatement of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and called for an open and independent investigation into the sexual harassment allegation against the Senate President.
Crediblenewsng.com
