Why we want Kogi Senator back home – groups

The group under the aegis of Kogi Central Women Development Association(KCWDA) has said the allegation of sexual harassment thrown up by the senator representing central senatorial district of the state, Senator Natasha Akpoti -Uduaghan was a mere propaganda that lack merits in the eyes of her constituents. The group spokesperson , Omole Charity Ijese disclosed […]

The group under the aegis of Kogi Central Women Development Association(KCWDA) has said the allegation of sexual harassment thrown up by the senator representing central senatorial district of the state, Senator Natasha Akpoti -Uduaghan was a mere propaganda that lack merits in the eyes of her constituents.

The group spokesperson , Omole Charity Ijese disclosed this in Lokoja to the newsmen yesterday, saying, it baffled them to note that a simple change of seat degenerated so fast into sexual harassment against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

The group said: “It isn’t in our place to decide whether her claims are valid or not, but it is within our purview to evaluate the actions she has taken so far and how they could potentially undermine the genuine efforts of other female politicians in the zone.

“As the saying goes, he who accuses must prove. We had expected Senator Natasha to have presented a petition before the Senate on her claims backed by solid evidence, instead of going on television to make a claim she’s yet to either file in court nor provide evidence to.

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“Her appearance before the Inter-Parliamentary Union has given her sexual harassment narrative as reason for her suspension a wide coverage by the international media, putting not only the Senate but the Nigerian state in a negative light,” the group added.

“It is on this premise that we, members of the Kogi Central Women Development Association, denounce her as our senator, demand an apology from her as we resolve to mobilise other groups in Kogi Central to commence her recall process from the Senate”.

Equally, the Kogi Central Political Frontier( KCPF) said the group was ready to commence the process of recalling Akpoti-Uduaghan back home for alleged gross misconduct and unruly behaviour at the red chamber , claiming to have portrayed the people from the district in a bad light .

The group said: “A recent review of events that led to the suspension of senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for gross misconduct and unruly behaviour has not only cast a shadow on the people of the district but also spurred us to question if truly the interest of the people of Kogi Central is duly protected in this matter”.

The group lamented that despite the window of opportunity given to the lawmaker to reverse the decision by submitting a written apology, she failed to utilize it to water down her case .

The group therefore said her behavior shows that she has “clearly failed to prioritise or consider the collective interest of the people of Kogi Central district whose voices by this singular misstep will be silenced for the next six legislative months, which is equivalent to 12 calendar months.

“All her actions since she was suspended were indicative of a personal resolve to abandon the people of Kogi Central to their own fate”.

Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan was suspended for reportedly declined to occupy her designated seat in the chamber, which was considered a breach of protocol.

She was also accused of addressing the Senate without obtaining prior recognition from the presiding officer, thereby violating established procedures.

However, the embattled senator has accused the Senate of intimidation and victimisation , including sexual harassment against the Senate president , Godswill Akpabio , claiming that it was an attempt at silencing her in the red chamber .