Akpabio breaks silence on plan to remove him as Senate president
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has claimed that certain individuals in Adamawa and Kwara states are working to remove him from office.
He stated that some of these people understand the Senate’s rules on conduct but are ignoring the real issues because of political opposition, Leadership reports.
Although he did not mention names, it is believed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from Adamawa and former Senate President Bukola Saraki from Kwara had allegedly previously called for his resignation over the controversy involving Senator Natasha Akpoti-Oduaghan of Kogi Central.
Akpabio explained that his role as Senate President goes beyond his constituency and party.
He said the Niger Delta region had not held the position for over four decades, and he would not take it lightly.
He made these remarks on Friday night while addressing youth leaders from various ethnic groups at the Senate Guest House in Maitama, Abuja.
“The first time the Niger Delta had a senate president, as you rightly noted, was 46 years ago. Whatever the opposition may do, we will not treat that office lightly,” Akpabio remarked, adding that the senate president represents not just himself but the entire people of the Niger Delta.
Addressing the issue of Akpoti-Oduaghan’s seating arrangement in the Senate, which led to allegations of sexual harassment, Akpabio said many people were making accusations without understanding the Senate’s standing rules.
He pointed out that every senator receives a copy of the standing orders upon entry, just as members of the House of Representatives receive a separate guide.
According to him, the suspension of Akpoti-Oduaghan was a unanimous decision by the Senate, and no senator opposed it.
Akpabio stressed that the Senate operates by its own rules and does not interfere with matters that are taken to court.
He added that if a process begins in the Senate, it cannot be stopped by a court order, as the legislature functions independently from the judiciary and executive arms of government.
Saraki Denies Calling For Akpabio’s Resignation
Meanwhile, Bukola Saraki has denied calling for the resignation of Godswill Akpabio, saying his statement was misinterpreted.
Saraki clarified that his remarks were not about Akpabio’s resignation but about ensuring a proper investigation into allegations made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
He insisted that his concern was about protecting the credibility of the Senate and ensuring that the allegations were not ignored or dismissed without due process.
Saraki’s media office stated that the former Senate President only urged Akpabio to handle the matter with transparency so that the public would not see the Senate as an institution that overlooks issues like sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and abuse of office.
According to Saraki, his comments were not politically or regionally motivated, and he would have made the same recommendation regardless of who was involved.
