Senate passes vote of confidence in Akpabio amid controversy

The Senate has expressed full confidence in its President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, passing a unanimous vote of confidence during Thursday’s plenary.

The motion, moved by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central) and seconded by Deputy Minority Leader Olalere Oyewumi (Osun West), came just two days after Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) addressed the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in New York, alleging that her suspension was linked to accusations of sexual harassment against Akpabio.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended Chair of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, has since filed contempt charges against Akpabio and others over her six-month suspension without pay.

ALSO READ

• Tinubu praises govs for backing tax reform bills
• Akpabio: Tinubu took charge of Nigeria on ‘life support’
• Akpabio elected Senate President, Abbas emerges Speaker of the House of Representatives
• Godswill Akpabio, governors celebrate fallen heroes
• NRTC WEEKLY: Top 5 trending stories across the country this week

However, the Senate has urged Nigerians not to be distracted by the allegations, stressing that the matter is already in court.

Referring to Order 40 of its standing rules, the Senate stated that it could not interfere in issues currently under judicial consideration.