I will never step down as Senate President because of Natasha’s allegations – Akpabio

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has dismissed any suggestion that he considered stepping down from his position over recent allegations of sexual harassment.

Speaking during Thursday’s plenary session, Akpabio responded to Senate Majority Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, who had moved a vote of confidence in the Senate President.

Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District, said some critics had expected the Senate to pressure Akpabio to resign over the allegations. He, however, praised his colleagues for remaining focused and refusing to act on unsubstantiated claims.

“By now, I’m sure you know, sir, that those who felt this Senate would have asked you to step down must be disappointed,” Bamidele said.

“Whatever the level of allegation against any of us, we will always ask for evidence and act only in the overriding public interest. I thank you, and I thank all our colleagues.”

In his response, Akpabio stated emphatically that he never contemplated resignation, describing the allegations as baseless.

“To answer your comment—‘those who would have asked you to step down’—who told you I was going to step down over false allegations?” Akpabio asked.

“If you look at history, even in America, black people have gone to prison for 25 years because of false accusations. I am not one of those who will step down because of lies. And when it’s eventually proven false, they’ll say, ‘Oh, we were unfair to Akpabio.’ So, if anyone had that in mind, they should erase it.”

The controversy stems from a series of allegations linked to suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central. The female lawmaker, currently under suspension for breaching Senate standing rules, recently published a sarcastic apology to Akpabio on her verified Facebook page.

In the post, Akpoti-Uduaghan mockingly expressed regret for the “crime of maintaining dignity and self-respect.”

Akpabio has since filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, asking the court to compel Akpoti-Uduaghan to take down the satirical apology from her social media account.