Senate Denies Petition Against Akpabio

Abuja – The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), has stated that there is currently no formal petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio concerning allegations of sexual harassment made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Speaking on Arise TV’s Morning Show, monitored in Abuja, Adaramodu dismissed the accusations as baseless, emphasizing that all senators, including Akpoti-Uduaghan, must adhere to the rules governing Senate proceedings.

Senate Affairs Are Not Governed by Media Trends

Adaramodu clarified that the Senate, as an institution, does not react to media speculations or issues raised on television programs and social media platforms. He reiterated that legislative matters are conducted strictly within the Senate or the House of Representatives, and any serious allegation must be submitted as a formal petition before it can be considered.

“The Senate does not operate based on trending topics on social media. For an issue to be investigated, there must be a formal complaint or petition brought before the Senate,” Adaramodu explained. “As of now, there is no formal case against the Senate President. The only issue at hand pertains to Senator Natasha’s non-compliance with the Senate’s standing orders.”

Senate Rules Must Be Followed

Addressing the controversy surrounding seating arrangements, which triggered the dispute, Adaramodu stated that Akpoti-Uduaghan must abide by Senate rules. He cited Order 6 of the Senate’s standing orders, which grants the Senate President the authority to allocate seats to lawmakers. According to him, all senators are expected to speak from their designated seats, and any violation of this rule disrupts order in the chamber.

He further argued that if a senator follows due process in raising a point of order, no Senate President would deny them the right to speak. He dismissed claims that the Senate President could intimidate his colleagues by denying them recognition, emphasizing that the Senate President remains one among equals.

Senate Rejects Calls for External Investigation

The Senate also rejected the call made by former Senate President Bukola Saraki, urging Akpabio to submit himself for an independent investigation. Lawmakers aligned with Akpabio dismissed the request, asserting that the issue does not warrant an external probe.

Meanwhile, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been summoned to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions to address concerns regarding her conduct during plenary last week.

Nigeria’s National Assembly Website