The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised the suspension of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, lawmaker representing Kogi central, from the senate.
The decision followed the adoption of the report by the
committee on ethics, privileges, and public petitions on Thursday.
The senate approved the committee’s recommendation that
Akpoti-Uduaghan should be suspended from all legislative activities effective
March 6, 2025.
A statement by Debo Ologunagba, spokesperson of the PDP,
described the decision as a “violation of parliamentary conventions and fair
hearing”.
The party noted that the move to suspend Akpoti-Uduaghan for
six months effectively denies her constituents their right to representation.
The PDP said Senate President Godswill Akpabio should not
have presided over a matter in which he is accused.
“The PDP asserts that the action of the Akpabio-led Senate
leadership against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan smacks of a desperation to cover
up,” the statement reads.
“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 opposition party said this was not the first time
Akpabio had been accused of sexual harassment, citing previous allegations made
by Joi Nunieh, former acting managing director of the Niger Delta Development
Commission (NDDC).
The PDP said Akpabio should step aside and allow an open and
impartial investigation into the allegations raised by Akpoti-Uduaghan.
“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,” the statement added.