Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has rejected calls from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and others urging him to resign from his position.
These calls stem from allegations of sexual harassment made by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, as well as claims linking him to electoral fraud in 2019.
Akpabio firmly stated that he would not step down due to what he considers baseless accusations.
Responding to Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who urged lawmakers to stay focused on their legislative duties, Akpabio made it clear that he would not allow false allegations to force him out of office.
He pointed out that many people in history have faced false accusations and have been wrongfully imprisoned, emphasizing that he would not be a victim of injustice.
He also expressed gratitude for Bamidele’s supportive words.
Akpabio further addressed comments made by the Minister of Defence, Muhammed Badaru, who had downplayed the importance of a planned national security summit by the Senate.
Akpabio stated that the Minister must attend the summit in his official capacity.
He also advised that any concerns the Ministry of Defence had with the Senate’s resolutions should be addressed privately, not publicly, to avoid conflict between the executive and legislative branches.
During a recent briefing, Badaru had argued that Nigeria’s Armed Forces were more advanced than insurgent groups, and that the real challenge was the unpredictable tactics of terrorists, often supported by local informants.
While acknowledging the value of security summits, Badaru suggested that strategy was more important and that the summit should contribute to refining existing strategies.
Bamidele, in defense of the Senate, said that while the Senate welcomed constructive criticism, they would not tolerate false accusations.
He reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment to reforms, including tax, electoral, and constitutional changes.
He also expressed concern over the Minister’s dismissal of the security summit, urging him to attend when the time comes
