A large number of constituents in Kogi Central sign a petition seeking to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Senate, just a week after she took her sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio to the UN Inter-Parliamentary Union in New York.
On Wednesday, residents of Okehi Local Government, predominantly women in hijabs, gathered in long queues under the scorching sun to sign the recall petition, expressing dissatisfaction with the senator’s performance in office.
The recall move follows Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension from the Senate on March 6, after she accused Mr. Akpabio of victimizing her for rejecting his alleged sexual advances—an accusation he has denied. The Senate defended her suspension, citing her refusal to adhere to chamber seating arrangements.
The controversy has sparked protests from both sides. Supporters of Mr. Akpabio accuse Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan of blackmail and an attempt to tarnish his political career, while pro-Akpoti protesters have condemned the Senate’s actions as an attempt to silence a female lawmaker for speaking out.
In a related development, Peoples Gazette reported that Neda Imasuen, the Edo senator who chaired the ethics committee that recommended Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, was previously disbarred by the New York Supreme Court over allegations of misappropriating client funds.
As the political battle unfolds, the recall petition adds another layer of tension to the growing controversy surrounding the embattled senator.
Read also:
Natasha: NASS Now Using Suspension As Instrument Of Terror BY ABDUL MAHMUD
Natasha v Akpabio: The Legal Issues
Court Adjourns Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Suit Against Senate To March 25
