Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has criticised the suspension of the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, from the Senate.
The decision followed the adoption of the report by the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions on Thursday.
The Senate approved the committee’s recommendation that Akpoti-Uduaghan should be suspended from all legislative activities effective March 6.
A statement by spokesperson of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, described the decision as a “violation of parliamentary conventions and fair hearing”.
The party noted that the move to suspend Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months effectively denies her constituents their right to representation.
The PDP said Senate President Godswill Akpabio should not have presided over a matter in which he is accused.
“PDP asserts that the action of the Akpabio-led Senate leadership against Akpoti-Uduaghan smacks of a desperation to cover up.
“The party observes that the hasty suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan without an open investigation into the weighty allegation of sexual harassment against the Senate president not only negates the principles of fair hearing, especially in parliamentary convention, but also portrays the Senate as an institution that endorses, condones and offers protection to reprobacy.
“Also, the excessively harsh six months suspension translates to denying the people of Kogi Central Senatorial Zone their constitutional right of being represented in the Senate.
“It is scandalous, and amounts to gross abuse of office and violation of the fundamentals of justice and fair hearing for Senator Akpabio to sit as a judge in a matter in which he is the accused; a situation which validates public apprehension of a desperation by the embattled Senate president to suppress open legislative probe into the allegation of sexual harassment leveled against him,” the statement reads.
The opposition party said this was not the first time that Akpabio had been accused of sexual harassment, citing previous allegations made by a former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Joy Nunieh.
The PDP said Akpabio should step aside and allow an open and impartial investigation into the allegations raised by Akpoti-Uduaghan.
“Given the height of public anxiety on this allegation of sexual harassment which has already escalated into protests at the National Assembly, PDP urges the Senate to redeem its image and integrity by immediately reinstating Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and ensuring an open investigation into the matter,” the statement added.
