The Nigerian Senate has passed a unanimous vote of confidence in Senate President Godswill Akpabio despite sexual harassment allegations by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Lawmakers dismissed the claims as a distraction, emphasizing that the matter is before the court. The decision reaffirms Akpabio’s leadership amid growing political tensions.
The Nigerian Senate has thrown its full support behind Senate President Godswill Akpabio, passing a vote of confidence in his leadership despite recent allegations of sexual harassment leveled against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The motion, introduced by Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central) and seconded by Deputy Minority Leader Olalere Oyewumi (Osun West), was approved unanimously during Thursday’s plenary. Lawmakers insisted that the Senate must remain focused on governance and should not be derailed by what they described as "distractions."
This decision comes just two days after Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was recently suspended from her role as Chair of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, spoke at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in New York. She alleged that her suspension was a direct consequence of raising sexual harassment claims against Akpabio.
However, the Senate dismissed these claims, stressing that the matter is already before the courts and, therefore, beyond legislative intervention, citing Order 40 of its standing rules. Senators urged Nigerians to allow due process to take its course rather than engage in what they termed premature judgments.
The vote of confidence reaffirms Akpabio’s hold on the Senate, with his allies portraying the decision as a testament to his leadership. However, the controversy has sparked debates outside the chamber, with civil society groups and political analysts questioning whether due process is being upheld in the case.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the fallout from this decision may shape political dynamics in the coming weeks.
