By Ayodele Oni
Following a turbulent session, the Senate seems to have rejected a sexual harassment petition filed against its president, Godswill Akpabio.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had submitted the petition against Akpabio on Wednesday, after opening remarks at plenary.
The Senate Chief Whip, Tahir Munguno, citing Order 40(4), argued that Senate rules must be strictly adhered to, warning that any deviation could lead to “chaos and anarchy.”
He insisted that the Senate must “stamp its feet in defense of its rules,” emphasizing that no matter pending before a court of law should be deliberated upon by the Senate, as it would be deemed subjudice.
Munguno further pointed out that the house rules prohibit any senator from presenting a petition personally signed stating, “Senator Natasha had signed her own petition, rendering it procedurally invalid.”
In her remarks, Natasha Akpoti argued that her case before the court was not related to sexual harassment, but rather to malicious comments about her dressing.
In an attempt to restore order, former Senate Leader Abdullahi Adamu noted that since Senate President Akpabio had already ruled on the matter, the petition should proceed to the Ethics Committee for review, stressing that “When the issue gets to the committee, the chairman will uphold all the rules.”
This generated mixed reactions, leading to a flurry of points of order and a brief commotion in the chamber.
Weighing in on the matter, the Leader of the house, Opeyemi Bamidele reaffirmed that no senator can author or sign own petition, adding that the Senate must uphold its rules to avoid setting a dangerous precedent.
He further noted that “the Senate President’s wife had already taken legal action on the matter, reinforcing the argument that the issue was already before the courts and therefore could not be entertained by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct.”
Bamidele said, “Mr. President, I sympathize with you as a man being accused of sexual harassment.
“We are guided by three things: The Constitution, the Rule Book, and… Mr. President, we are not guided by emotions. You were being emotional, that was why you took that petition.
We must be guided by our Rule Book.”
Responding to Bamidele’s comment, Akpabio explained that he had allowed the petition because he did not want the public—who may not understand Senate procedures—to believe that he was victimizing Natasha.
The President said, “Senate Leader, I took that petition because I didn’t want the people who do not understand our rule in the Senate to think that I am deliberately silencing her because I am involved.”
Amid rising tensions, the Senate Leader called for a closed-door session, but the Senate President ruled that plenary should continue.
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