By Naomi Sharang, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

The 10th Senate recently passed a vote of confidence in its President, Godswill Akpabio, amid the raging controversy over sexual harassment allegation.

The dispute started when Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, accused Akpabio of sexual harassment and presented a petition to that effect.

The petition read in part: “I have a petition against the President of the Nigerian Senate over sexual harassment, abuse of office and malicious obstruction of my legislative functions.’’

Consequently, the petition was referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions, chaired by Neda Imasuen.

The committee, after considering the matter, came up with its recommendations including a six months suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The recommendations which were amended and approved by the upper legislative chamber are:

“That the Senate suspends Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months for her total violation of the Senate Standing rules 2023, as amended for bringing the Presiding officer and the entire Senate in general to public opprobrium.

“That the Senate should consider lifting the suspension or reducing the tenure of suspension if Akpoti-Uduaghan submits a written apology.

“That her salaries and allowances be suspended and withdrawal of all security details for the duration of her suspension.

“That for the period of her suspension, she be barred from presenting herself to the public locally and internationally as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.’’

Nonetheless, some senators have reportedly distanced themselves from the suspension on the contention they were not allowed to review the final draft before it was presented on the floor of the Senate.

They alleged that the signatures attached to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension report were taken from the attendance register during one of their regular meetings.

Note, Akpoti-Uduaghan had approached the Federal High Court, seeking an order restraining the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges from investigating her.

Reacting to her suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan, who prior to her interdiction, chaired the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, said that her unjust suspension from the Senate invalidated the principles of natural justice, fairness and equity.

“Against the culture of silence, intimidation and victim-shaming, my unjust suspension from the Nigerian Senate invalidates the principles of natural justice, fairness and equity.

“The illegal suspension does not withdraw my legitimacy as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and I will continue to use my duly elected position to serve my constituents and country to the best of my ability until 2027 and beyond.”

The embattled senator, afterwards, proceeded to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting held at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York to seek for justice and intervention from international democratic institutions.

Worthy of mention,  Akpabio is a member of the Executive Committee of the IPU.

The IPU’s primary purpose is to promote democratic governance, accountability and cooperation among its members.

At IPU, Akpoti-Uduaghan condemned her suspension and described it as an assault on democracy.

“This is a clear case of political victimisation, punishment for speaking out against impunity, corruption and gender-based violence,’’ she said.

Responding to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition, the President of the IPU, Tulia Ackson, said that the global parliamentary organisation had taken note of all the concerns raised but would also provide an opportunity for the Nigerian Senate to present its side of the story before taking any action.

However, the Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Kafilat Ogbara, who also spoke at the IPU, dismissed claims made by Akpoti-Uduaghan that she was suspended for raising allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio.

Ogbara said she was mandated by the National Assembly to present a response to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s speech delivered at the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the status of women.

Ogbara also read the position paper of the Senate by the Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele.

The Senate letter read in part: “Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for gross misconduct and unruly behaviour and not as a result of allegation of sexual harassment or assault.

“The authority of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria firmly refutes the deliberate misinformation and false narrative being circulated by certain media organisations regarding the six-month suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan.’’

As the imbroglio unfolded, Bamidele sponsored a motion for a vote of confidence in Akpabio and was seconded by Deputy Minority Leader, Olalere Oyewumi.

Bamidele in the motion, cited Orders 41 and 51 of the Senate Standing Order and hinged the vote of confidence on Akpabio’s performance since the inauguration of 10th Senate, in spite of the sexual harassment narrative.

He said that the issue before the senate, as of the time it was referred to the Ethics and Privileges Committee, had nothing to do with sexual harassment.

“Some of the critics said this senate allowed Akpabio to be a judge of his own course and to preside over his own matter.

“With all due respect, the matter before us and on which Akpabio presided over as the President of the Senate had to do with a motion that was referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petition.

“While we appreciate the concern of the public on this matter, I just want to emphasise that it is important that we also seek the understanding of the judgments.

“It is important to the general public that we were elected to serve the people and we are guided; whatever we do in this chamber, we are guided by rules,’’ he said.

Akpabio, in his remarks, thanked his colleagues for the vote of confidence passed on him.

He said that the 10th Senate was bound in purpose for the interest of Nigeria.

The Senate President said that Akpoti-Uduaghan had embarrassed the country by distorting the facts about her suspension at the IPU meeting.

Akpabio said Akpoti-Uduaghan gave a false narrative of the issue.

Prior to the vote of confidence passed on him, Akpabio had denied any attempt to sexually harass Akpoti-Uduaghan

“While I am aware that the matters are in court, however, I would like to state clearly that at no time did I ever attempt this sexual harassment of the said Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan or any other woman,’’ he said.

The Chairman, Senate Inter-Parliamentary Committee, Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim, lending his voice, said the IPU could not consider the petition suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan presented before it.

According to him,  Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition before the IPU “is dead on arrival”.

He said that the IPU could not consider petitions from individuals adding that Nigeria, rather than Akpoti-Uduaghan, was a member of the IPU.

“A petition can only be lodged against a member state by another member state; the suspended senator is not a member of the IPU, but Nigeria is; she cannot represent the Federal Republic of Nigeria,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has upbraided the Senate over Akpoti-Uduaghan suspension.

The PDP, in a reaction through its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, urged the Senate to redeem its image by conducting a thorough investigation on the allegation made against the Senate President.

“Given the widespread public concern over this sexual harassment allegation, which has already sparked protests at the National Assembly, the PDP urges the Senate to restore its credibility by immediately reinstating Akpoti-Uduaghan and ensuring an open investigation into the matter,’’ he said.

More so, an Abuja-based lawyer and human rights activist, Pelumi Olajengbesi, said the Senate President was entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

He argued that the handling of the matter had been neither honourable nor decent.

“It is an affront to justice, legal principles and to the Senate itself for the Senate President to preside over the suspension of Senator Natasha.

“In such circumstances, he should have respectfully stepped aside, allowing the Deputy Senate President to oversee the process, thereby ensuring impartiality and transparency.

“The credibility of the Senate is now at stake; the only honourable course of action is for the Senate President to step aside immediately so that an independent and transparent investigation can take place.

“Anything less is an insult to justice and a mockery of the institution he leads; such inaction erodes public confidence in our democracy and casts doubt on whether those in power are truly committed to the principles of justice and fairness.

“The world is watching; Nigeria must demonstrate that it is a nation governed by the rule of law—where no one, no matter how highly placed, is above accountability,’’ he said.

What’s more, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has approached the court to seek redress for Akpoti-Uduaghan.

SERAP is asking the court for “an order of mandamus to direct and compel Akpabio to rescind the unlawful suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan, reinstate her and fully restore all her legislative rights, entitlements and privileges.”

Political analysts say all parties should sheathe their swords and reach a common ground towards an amicable resolution of the standoff in order to save Nigeria further embarrassments.(NANfeatures)

***If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria.