He clarified that the issue before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions was not related to sexual harassment but to alleged violations of Senate rules.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has warned that Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s conduct may deter more gender inclusion in politics.
He said this while reacting to the Kogi lawmaker’s appearance at the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) summit in New York, where she alleged persecution over her sexual harassment claims against him.
He said male governors would be careful not to work with female deputies so that they do not face sexual harassment allegation for holding their hands.
Akpabio further accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of distorting facts and attempting to embarrass Nigeria on international platforms.
“I’m aware that when she left the chamber, she went to Brekete, she went to Arise Television, and she distorted the facts. I’m aware that she has now externalised it by attempting to embarrass the Federal Republic of Nigeria by giving a narrative at the IPU UN event that is totally different from what occurred in the Senate,” Akpabio stated.
He commended Hon. Khafilat Ogbara for addressing the issue in New York and cautioning international media against misrepresenting the situation.
“I want to thank our Rt. Hon. Member, Khafilat Ogbara, who had to give a press conference in New York to caution the international press not to vilify Nigeria, but to note that the facts presented by her were totally out of tune with what occurred in the Nigerian Parliament, and that we have our own internal mechanisms of resolving issues,” Akpabio added.
The Senate also passed a vote of confidence in Akpabio, stressing that its actions were in line with the law and urging the public to trust its internal processes. However, lawmakers warned that the controversy surrounding Natasha’s conduct could create setbacks for women in politics if misinterpretations continue to dominate the narrative.
In his remarks, the Senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, also raised concerns that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s actions following her suspension for gross misconduct could negatively impact the participation of women in politics.
Addressing the chamber on Thursday, the Senate Leader warned that misrepresenting internal parliamentary matters on international platforms could undermine the credibility of female politicians.
He called for public understanding of the Senate’s legislative rules and procedures.
“Up until the day that we announced on this floor that we were referring a petition brought by Senator Yemi Adaramodu with respect to Senator Natasha’s flagrant disobedience to the rules and regulations of this Senate, none of us was ever told about any sexual harassment,” Bamidele stated.
He clarified that the issue before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions was not related to sexual harassment but to alleged violations of Senate rules.
“Some of the critics who have said this Senate allowed Senator Godswill Akpabio to be a judge in his own case and to decide over his own matter need to be told, with all due responsibility and respect, that the issue before us had to do with the motion that was referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions,” he added.
Bamidele empemphasised the Senate operates by constitutional principles, not personal biases.
“It is not a rule of men, it is a rule of law. It is not about some men trying to gang up against a woman or anybody; it is about ensuring that our rules are respected. That is the only way we can guarantee peace, law, and order,” he said.
He also reaffirmed the Senate’s authority to discipline its members, citing the Nigerian Constitution.
“Section 60 of the Nigerian Constitution confers on this Parliament the constitutional rights to regulate its own procedure. And Section 1, Subsection B of our rules also makes it clear by reiterating that constitutional authority granted to us by Section 60, giving us the right to regulate our procedure. Suspension, as far as we are concerned, is the only authority to the kind of anarchy that the nation witnessed in the past,” he argued.