Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Not Bigger Than The Senate – Says Senator Adeola

The Chairman of Senate Committee on Appropriations and one of the ranking Senators of the 10th Senate, Senator Solomon Adeola, (APC, Ogun West), has declared that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi East) cannot position herself as bigger than the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In a statement personally signed by the thrice elected Senator with over 22 years as a parliamentarian at State and Federal legislature, Senator Adeola stated that Senator Akpoti- Uduaghan was suspended for flagrant violation of the Senate Standing Orders and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“As a member of the 10th Senate with experience as a member of the 8th and 9th Senate, I make bold to say that Senator Akpoti- Uduaghan was in gross violation of the Senate Standing Orders and the Senate did the appropriate thing in her suspension. We are all Senators-Elect until sworn in with the Constitution and the Standing Orders. It is only then that we become Senators under oath to abide by the Constitution and the Standing Orders” the statement read.

Senator Adeola stated that Senator Akpoti- Uduaghan did not exhaust the internal mechanisms available to her for any grievance stressing that by filing a lawsuit against the Presiding Officer of the Senate and the Senate, her petition cannot be entertained in the Senate until the court decides on the suit she filed.

“The Senate as an institution derives it power from the Constitution to make rules for its orderly conduct. And the Legislative House (Powers and Privilege) Act 2018 grants the Senate rights to conduct its affairs as an arm of Government free from judicial encumbrances. The outcome of its decisions can be challenged but the Senate cannot be stopped from functioning as an arm of Government” Senator Adeola stated.

On Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan allegation of sexual harassment against Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, which allegedly occurred over a year ago, Senator Adeola stated that such allegations without concrete evidence yet against the Principal of the Senate and the Chairman of National Assembly amounts to an attack on the institution of Nigeria’s parliament.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations said the 10th Senate is gender friendly through many of its passed bills and motions adding that the female Senators in the Senate have not been suppressed, silenced or oppressed as all honour and courtesies due any Senator are accorded to them within and outside the Red Chamber.

“I want to call on the International Parliamentary Union, IPU, not to be coaxed to do anything that will diminish the status of the parliament as the bastion of democracy. IPU should not succumb to being used as an instrument of blackmail against a national institution of parliament.” he stated.

The Senator commended Hon. Khafilat Oghara, the House of Representatives Committee Chairperson on Women Affairs and official Nigeria representative at IPU, for her stand stating the issues in proper perspective adding that he is happy that the IPU President did not swallow the allegations of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan hook, line and sinker.

Senator Adeola stated that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan remains suspended until she fulfills the conditions offered for her suspension to be reconsidered or a court of competent jurisdiction decides otherwise adding that the institution of Senate is bigger than all the present members and will outlive all of the members in due course.