Senator Ireti Kingibe representing the Federal Capital Territory has come under serious fire from not a few Nigerians, for supporting the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by the Senate.
The FCT senator is the Senate Committee Chairman on Women Affairs, and among the senators who signed the suspension order of the Red Chamber which suspended Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan on Thursday, according to the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who, while speaking on the suspension yesterday said the action taken against the senator has nothing to do with her gender as being portrayed by critics of the Nigerian legislature.
Not a few Nigerians have however condemned Senator Kingibe’s action because, as they contend she’s a supposed to be defending the interest of women by virtue of her position in the National assembly, and considering that when she faced a similar problem in the senate, many Nigerians rallied round her.
Kingibe and other women lawmakers should have rallied round the embattled Senator Akpoti- Uduaghan when it mattered the most, in a show of solidarity with one of their own according to those who are not happy with the role played by the FCT senator and what transpired at the senate yesterday.
The magazine reported that Senator Kingibe had earlier criticised Senator Akpoti-uduaghan over her clash with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, last month, saying as someone old enough to be the embattled senators ‘mother’ she did not approve of her attack against Akpabio.
Reacting to the controversy, Fatteh Hamid, MON @OgbeniAyoola said “Senator Opeyemi Bamidele noted that Senate Chair on Women Affairs, Ireti Kinigbe, was part of those who recommended Natasha Akpoti’s suspension.
Both Ireti Kinigbe and all other female senators in the current assembly should cover their face in shame.”
On his part, Trix @Trixtian_ described what transpired at the Senate as “A very big shame. I’m just speechless at the spectacle.”
According to Njikah Àgbèlọba Chivoroke (The Snail Seller). @CoCoPaPiOfPH, Nigerians are waiting for Senator Kingibe in the next election to teach her a bitter lesson for not rising up to the occasion, to defend Natasha when it mattered the most.
“She’ll have a torrid campaign, no one will support her, wike doesn’t like her either and wants her seat for the APC guy so to hell with her even,” she said.
Fatteh Hamid, MON @OgbeniAyoola, in her reaction said “It’s shameful!” for Senator Kingibe to join other senators in punishing a women like her when she’s supposed to defend her.
The Akpabio-led Senate, on Thursday, suspended the Kogi Central Senator for a period of six months, in line with the recommendation of Senate Committee on Ethics and Privilege which investigated Senator Akpoti- Uduaghan for alleged misconduct on the Senate floor on February 25, 2025.
Among other punishments for her alleged infraction against the Senate, her security details have been withdrawn while her salary has been suspended for the period of her suspension.
The Red Chamber has also ordered her to stop parading herself as a Senator of the Federal Republic forthwith.
Trouble started for Senator Akpoti-Udughan on February 25 after she was relocated to another seat from her former seat in the Senate, leading to her angry protest and clash with Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President.
The Kogi senator would later alleged that Akpabio demanded sexual favour from her, which she turned down, that her alleged harassment was borne out of her refusal to give in to the sexual harassment from the Senate President.
Akpabio, has however, denied the allegation that he demanded sexual favour from Natasha.
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