President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has firmly rejected calls for his resignation following allegations of sexual harassment made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central. Speaking at plenary on Thursday, Akpabio declared that he would not step down over what he described as false and baseless accusations.
Akpabio’s remarks followed Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele’s defense of the Senate’s integrity, stating that the 10th Senate would not cave in to public pressure or blackmail arising from unverified claims.
“I’m not one of those people who step down over false allegations,” Akpabio asserted.
“If you had that in mind, cancel it. I won’t step down.”
Akpabio drew parallels to the experiences of falsely accused individuals in the United States, asserting that his stance was rooted in a commitment to truth and justice.
Defence Minister Under Fire for Dismissing Senate’s Security Plans
In a related development, tensions escalated between the Senate and the executive arm after Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru publicly dismissed the Senate’s proposal for a national security summit. Badaru claimed during a ministerial briefing that “renewal of strategy” was more essential than holding another summit.
Akpabio criticized the minister’s comments, calling them inappropriate and disrespectful to the legislature’s constitutional role.
“If the Defence Minister has any issue with a Senate resolution, he should contact the Senate President, not make public remarks,” Akpabio stated, warning of potential “Executive-Legislative brouhaha.”
The Senate hinted at summoning the Defence Minister to clarify his position.
Senate Emphasizes Its Legislative Mandate on Security
Senate Leader Bamidele emphasized that while criticism of public officials is expected in a democracy, false narratives and deliberate misinformation cannot be tolerated.
“It is a resolved national security summit. When the time comes, the minister should be ready to honour our invitation,” he added.
The Senate’s firm stance signals a growing assertiveness in asserting its oversight role, particularly in matters concerning national security and executive accountability.