Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has dismissed allegations by the current Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, that he seeks the removal of a Niger Delta representative from the leadership of the Senate.
Saraki clarified that his earlier call for a transparent investigation into the allegations made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Akpabio was misrepresented.
According to a statement signed by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki maintained that his position had nothing to do with Akpabio’s ethnic background or political affiliation.
Akpabio, while addressing some youth ethnic groups on Friday, alleged that some individuals from Kwara and Adamawa States were working to remove him because of his Niger Delta roots. Saraki, however, dismissed this as an attempt to politicize a serious matter that affects the integrity of the Senate.
“Dr. Saraki in his last comment on the Akpabio-Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan crisis never called on the Senate President to resign or step aside,” the statement clarified.
He further emphasized, “Rather, he urged the Senate President to be conscious of the fact that perception is reality and therefore he should avoid treating the allegations by the Senator in a manner that will create the perception that the Senate as an institution is trying to cover up issues bothering on sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and abuse of office.”
Saraki reiterated that his stance was not about Akpoti-Uduaghan’s personal claims but about ensuring the Senate upholds due process.
“Also, Dr. Saraki made it clear that his intervention was neither about Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan nor whether her claim was right or not. He stated that since the Senator has gone public with such serious allegations against the presiding officer, the image of the institution should be saved through an honest, sincere, open, transparent, and unbiased investigation.”
He stressed that his recommendations align with constitutional provisions and Senate procedures.
“In that press statement, he also pointed out that there are already existing processes recommended in the Constitution, laws of the land, Senate rules, conventions, and precedents to be followed in carrying out such investigation.”
Saraki rejected any suggestion that his remarks were influenced by party politics or regional considerations.
*”Again, Dr. Saraki is of the firm belief that his suggestions are for the benefit of the legislative institution. So, he will repeat the same suggestion no matter where the Senate President comes from and whichever party he belongs to.
It is not because the incumbent is a member of the APC, that the former Senate President is from the PDP or that the former is from the South-South zone while the latter is from the North Central zone. Far from it. It is disingenuous and crude to describe Dr. Saraki’s comment along those primordial lines.”*
He urged Akpabio to focus on the core issue rather than exploiting ethnic or political sentiments.
“This issue is definitely not one in which Akpabio should exploit ethnic sentiments, political division, or regional proclivity. This will neither be in his own interest or that of the institution over which he is presiding. He should face the reality on ground and do what is right.”
According to Saraki, matters relating to sexual harassment and gender discrimination must be handled with transparency and accountability.
“The former Senate President believes that when a sensitive matter suggesting sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and mistreatment of women comes up anywhere, it evokes the pains that thousands of women across the nooks and crannies of our society experience daily. Thus, when it is raised in a place like the legislative institution, it is an opportunity for us to handle it with utmost openness and transparency to ensure that justice is not only done but glaringly seen to be done.”
He reaffirmed his earlier stance, calling for an open investigation.
“Once again, Dr. Saraki stands by and maintains his earlier suggestion to Akpabio and the Senate leadership on the allegations raised by the Senator from Kogi State.
An open, transparent, and honest investigation of the allegations is still needed to ensure that the Senate is not cast in the image of an institution that is tolerant of sexual harassment, gender bias, victimisation and mistreatment of women, abuse of office, and enthronement of the culture of silence.
By having such an investigation, the general public and the international community will have more confidence in our legislative institution.
People like Dr. Saraki have made huge sacrifices in defending the integrity of the legislative institution and will not desist in speaking up for the right thing to be done. May God bless our institutions and our country.”
The controversy follows Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s public allegations against Akpabio, accusing him of sexual harassment. The Senate President has denied the claims, and Akpoti-Uduaghan was subsequently suspended for six months, with her salary and that of her staff withheld. Her suspension was reportedly based on a violation of Senate rules.
