{"id":114571,"date":"2025-05-09T08:54:28","date_gmt":"2025-05-09T12:54:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/africatodaynewsnewyork.com\/?p=114571"},"modified":"2025-05-09T08:54:28","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T12:54:28","slug":"akpabio-rejects-calls-to-resign-over-harassment-allegation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/africatodaynewsnewyork.com\/2025\/05\/09\/akpabio-rejects-calls-to-resign-over-harassment-allegation\/","title":{"rendered":"Akpabio Rejects Calls To Resign Over Harassment Allegation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Senate President Godswill Akpabio<\/a> has firmly rejected mounting calls for his resignation in the wake of sexual harassment allegations leveled against him by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Speaking on the Senate floor during Thursday\u2019s plenary session, Akpabio denounced the claims as unfounded and reaffirmed his commitment to upholding the responsibilities of his office.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The session, which also saw the passage of four significant tax reform bills, underscored the Senate\u2019s legislative momentum\u2014a point Akpabio highlighted as evidence of the chamber\u2019s continued focus and integrity.<\/p>\n

The former governor of Akwa Ibom State praised his colleagues for their diligence and resilience amid political distractions, stating unequivocally that the Senate would not be sidetracked from its constitutional mandate.<\/p>\n

Responding to concerns raised by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), Akpabio declared, \u201cWho told you I was going to step down? Those who thought this Senate would ask me to resign have now seen that we remain focused on our duties.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt whatever level allegations arise, we will demand evidence and act in the overriding public interest.\u201d<\/p>\n

Drawing parallels with judicial errors in the United States, Akpabio noted that some individuals have suffered wrongful imprisonment over false accusations.<\/p>\n

\n

Read also: Akpabio Cautions Obi Over Crisis-Stirring Remarks<\/a><\/strong><\/h1>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cI am not one of those who step down for what is false.<\/p>\n

And when it is eventually proven untrue, they simply say, \u2018oh\u2019, as if that makes up for it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, was suspended on March 6 after a heated dispute with the Senate leadership, which she claimed was triggered by a controversial change in seating arrangement meant to undermine her.<\/p>\n

Tensions between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and suspended lawmaker Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan have intensified following explosive public allegations and a deepening legal dispute.<\/p>\n

The controversy erupted when Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, during a nationally televised interview, accused Akpabio of orchestrating her suspension from the National Assembly as retaliation for allegedly rejecting his sexual advances. She further escalated the matter to the global stage, delivering a pointed address at the Women in Parliament session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) held at the United Nations headquarters in New York. There, she urged international bodies to scrutinize what she described as systemic silencing of female voices within Nigeria\u2019s legislative framework.<\/p>\n

In her remarks, Akpoti-Uduaghan decried the punitive measures taken against her\u2014measures which included a six-month suspension, withdrawal of her official security detail, and cuts to her legislative salary and benefits.<\/p>\n

In a parallel development, Akpabio has filed a motion before the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to compel the suspended senator to take down a satirical video she posted on social media on April 27. In the video, Akpoti-Uduaghan delivers a mock apology to Akpabio, sarcastically stating it was for \u201cnot allowing him to have his way.\u201d<\/p>\n

The unfolding saga has drawn widespread attention both at home and abroad, raising questions about the culture of accountability, gender power dynamics, and freedom of expression within Nigeria\u2019s political institutions.<\/p>\n

Africa Today News, New York<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has firmly rejected mounting calls for his resignation in the wake of sexual harassment allegations leveled against him by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Speaking on the Senate floor during Thursday\u2019s plenary session, Akpabio denounced the claims as unfounded and reaffirmed his commitment to upholding the responsibilities of his office. The session, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":114572,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6928],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-114571","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature","pmpro-has-access"],"yoast_head":"\nAkpabio Rejects Calls To Resign Over Harassment Allegation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Senate President Godswill Akpabio has firmly rejected mounting calls for his resignation in the wake of sexual harassment allegations\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/africatodaynewsnewyork.com\/2025\/05\/09\/akpabio-rejects-calls-to-resign-over-harassment-allegation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta 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