A former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has criticized the Nigerian Senate for rejecting a sexual harassment petition filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Ezekwesili, in a strong-worded statement on Thursday, described the Senate’s decision as a betrayal of democratic principles and called for an open, transparent hearing on the allegations.
Senate Rejects Harassment Petition
The controversy began on February 20 when Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan engaged in a heated exchange over changes in seating arrangements in the Senate chamber. Days later, during an interview on Arise News, Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed that her troubles in the Senate started after she rejected sexual advances from Akpabio.
On Wednesday, the Kogi Central lawmaker formally submitted a petition on the Senate floor, accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment. However, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions dismissed the petition, citing violations of due process and Senate rules.
Ezekwesili Demands Transparency
Reacting to the Senate’s decision, Ezekwesili took to her X (formerly Twitter) page to demand a fair hearing for Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations.
She wrote, “The National Assembly belongs to the Nigerian people, not to politicians of any stripe or status. No individual or group can capture a public institution and use it for personal benefit or advantage.”
Ezekwesili insisted that the petition should be treated with the seriousness it deserves.
“Whenever a situation like the one involving Senators Natasha Akpoti and Akpabio arises, lawmakers must understand that the Nigerian public wants transparency and full disclosure,” she stated.
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She also condemned the decision to reject the petition without proper scrutiny.
“Dismissing a serious accusation against the Senate President, as the senators irresponsibly did yesterday, is a democratic aberration. It cannot stand. Never,” she declared.
Ezekwesili further criticized Akpabio’s role in the proceedings, saying, “What happened yesterday in the Senate chamber, where a Senate President presided over a grave matter involving him, was farcical and a blot on our democracy.”
Despite the Senate’s rejection of her initial petition, Akpoti-Uduaghan resubmitted it during Thursday’s plenary session. However, the Ethics Committee responded by recommending that she be suspended for six months for engaging the Senate President in a heated debate over seating arrangements.