A former Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) governorship candidate in Edo State, Patience Ndidi Ofure Key, has urged the Senate to give Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan a fair hearing in her sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Key, past Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Americas, called for an independent probe of the allegations and made a call for the immediate now lifting of suspension on Akpoti-Uduaghan. Key criticized the action of the Senate suspending the senator for the reasons that it was a case of muzzling her and that Akpabio must not sit in judgment over himself.
The erstwhile presidential aspirant bemoaned Senate’s move on the issue, terming it a show of inherent defects in Nigeria’s political process and questioning justice, gender equality, due process, and abuse of power.
She enumerated major demands, which are:
- Immediate Reinstatement & Sincere Investigation – The Senate should rescind Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension and set up an impartial panel to hear the sexual harassment claim objectively.
- Reform of Senate Disciplinary Procedure – Current disciplinary procedures must be reformed to prevent abuse of power and ensure equal treatment to all members, regardless of gender or political orientation.
- Greater Commitment to Gender Equality in Politics – Women in politics must be empowered, respected, and protected, and the silencing of women’s voices in politics must cease.
- Priority of Legislative Work – The Senate would give priority to dealing with unwholesome issues facing Nigerians instead of being busy with individual cases.
Key also urged Nigerians to hold their lawmakers accountable for bringing accountability, transparency, and justice, and said the Senate must uphold due process and guard all members against harassment, equally.
