Senate Integrity At Risk: CNPP, CSOs Demand Akpabio Steps Aside For Fair Investigation

Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and civil society organisations (CSOs), under the auspices of the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs), have addressed the ongoing feud between the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, urging Senator Akpabio to step aside for fair investigation of the sexual harassment allegation against him.

While addressing the media in Abuja on behalf of the CNPP and the coalition, Hon. Nnaemeka Aleke, Public Relations Officer of the CNCSOs, highlighted the urgent need to safeguard the integrity of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Hon. Aleke emphasized the growing concerns regarding the Senate’s independence, particularly in light of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s endorsement of Senator Akpabio for the position of Senate President. “Many Nigerians perceive this endorsement as an endorsement of corruption and impunity,” the coalition stated. He further noted that the announcement of a recess package for Senators after the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly has led to a significant reduction in opposition voices within the Senate, raising alarms about the independence of the the lawmakers.

The bodies also shed light on several unresolved allegations of corruption surrounding Senator Akpabio. Hon. Aleke cited calls for an investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into Akpabio’s alleged diversion of N700 billion during his tenure as Governor of Akwa Ibom State. “An audit report has indicated financial infractions exceeding N1 trillion during his governorship,” the groups said. Additionally, allegations of misappropriation of over N200 billion in Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) funds during Akpabio’s ministerial role were highlighted.

This is even as the group noted that the conflict between Senator Akpabio and Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has brought serious allegations of sexual harassment to the forefront as Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has formally submitted a petition detailing her experiences, which she publicly recounted during a television interview.

Hon. Aleke pointed out that similar claims were made by Joy Nunieh, the former Acting Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), in 2020 without conclusive investigation.

In response to these developments, the CNPP and the CSOs have called for immediate action to address the situation. Their demands include the immediate recusal of Senator Godswill Akpabio from his position as President of the Senate while the allegations against him are investigated. “Senator Akpabio cannot be the Judge in his own case if justice must be seen to have been done,” they asserted. They also demanded that the Senate Committee investigating the allegations must operate with transparency and impartiality, and that the proceedings be broadcast live to ensure accountability and public trust.

Furthermore, the CNPP and CNCSOs demanded that the Chairman of the committee, Senator Neda Imaseun, must also to recuse himself from the investigation due to his apparent bias against the petitioner as not to undermines the integrity of the investigative process.

Hon. Aleke concluded that the bodies were stressing the importance of upholding the principles of justice, accountability, and respect for all individuals, regardless of their status. “Nigeria’s reputation and the integrity of our Senate are at stake. We cannot afford to trivialize these serious allegations or allow them to go unaddressed,” he declared.

The political parties and the civil society coalition noted that their next line of action will be made known in the event that the outlined demands were not met.