Opposition senators visit suspended Natasha Akpoti, promise quick resolution of saga

Opposition senators visit suspended Natasha Akpoti, promise quick resolution of saga

A delegation of senators from opposition political parties
visited suspended Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central,
at her home on Friday.

 

The delegation was led by Seriake Dickson, a former governor
of Bayelsa state.

 

Dickson, a member of the senate’s ethics and privileges
committee that recommended Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, shared a photo of the
visit on his social media pages.

 

He said his engagement with the tax reform bills had kept
him away from senate proceedings on the day of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension.

 

“The public may recall that, for the past 3 days, I was
attending the 3-day workshop on the Tax Reform Bills which started on Wednesday
5th of March and ended this evening, Friday 7th of March,” he said.

 

“This is why I was not available yesterday to sit as a
member of the Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, Privileges and Public
Petitions in respect of the issues concerning our colleague Distinguished
Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan’s suspension, haven been assured by the
Committee Chairman that the hearing would hold on Wednesday the 11th of March
for which notices had already been issued. I was not notified of the emergency
seating yesterday.

 

“This evening, after concluding the retreat, I led a
delegation of some senators of opposition parties on a visit to our colleague
Senator Natasha and met with her and her husband at their home.”

 

Dickson said as humans, senators have their low and high
moments “and it is a tradition for Senators to support each other during these
moments”.

 

“We offered words of encouragement, prayers and advice on a
quick resolution of the issues surrounding her suspension,” he added.

 

“Having heard more from her and her husband for the first
time, I will discuss with other colleagues on how to intervene and engage with
the leadership of the senate to resolve the issues as soon as possible.”

 

Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on Thursday for six months
after she refused her new seat in the upper legislative chamber.

 

The dispute escalated into allegations of sexual harassment
by the Kogi senator against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

 

Her suspension has sparked widespread debate and criticisms,
particularly from women’s rights groups and civil society organisations.

 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, saying the move reeks of a grand cover-up attempt
from Akpabio.

Source: Opposition senators visit suspended Natasha Akpoti, promise quick resolution of saga

 - NigerianEye
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