Amid the sexual harassment allegations made against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Senate today, March 13, overwhelmingly passed a vote of confidence in Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
This decision comes just 48 hours after the suspended Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central), addressed the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in New York. She claimed that her suspension was due to her raising allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio.
The Senate has urged Nigerians not to be distracted by the allegations, emphasizing that the matter is currently under judicial review. Citing Order 40 of its standing rules, the Senate stated it cannot intervene in a case that is before the courts.
The vote of confidence in Akpabio was passed unanimously during Thursday’s plenary, following a motion moved by Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central) and seconded by Deputy Minority Leader Olalere Oyewumi (Osun West).