In a significant turn of events, the Northern Progressives Movement for Good Governance (NPMGG) has rallied to the defense of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, denouncing allegations of sexual harassment made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central.
The movement has labeled her recent behaviour in the Senate as “unethical” and a breach of expected legislative decorum.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the National Publicity Secretary of the NPMGG, Lukeman Datijjo, Esq., emphasized the importance of maintaining integrity and respect within the legislative body. “We strongly condemn Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s unethical conduct during last Thursday’s plenary session,” the statement asserted. “Her actions not only violated the principles of decorum but also undermine the dignity of leadership, particularly the role of women in governance.”
The NPMGG has accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of using serious allegations as a ploy to deflect attention away from her alleged misconduct in the Senate sessions. The statement described her claims against Akpabio as a “deliberate attempt to distract the public” and questioned the senator’s history of making similar accusations in the past.
“Why is it that Senator Natasha is always embroiled in a dispute, whether in her family, community, or at the national level?” the NPMGG questioned in their statement. They further argued that her pattern of accusations, which include high-profile individuals like former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, Senator Dino Melaye, and Reno Omokri, could indicate a troubling trend.
The organization has advised the public to treat her allegations with caution, urging, “Nigerians must take her latest accusations against the President of the Senate with a pinch of salt and dismiss them as fabrications designed to mislead the public.”
In light of these accusations, the NPMGG is calling for swift action from the Senate’s Ethics, Privileges, and Disciplinary Committee to uphold accountability and transparency within the legislature. “The National Assembly must ensure that due process is followed without fear, favoritism, or external interference,” the group stated.
Emphasizing the critical role of the Senate in Nigerian governance, the NPMGG concluded, “The Senate is too important to be undermined by reckless actions. All patriotic Nigerians must work collectively to protect its sanctity and ensure no lawmaker is allowed to subvert its history without consequences.
