Former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has criticized Senate President Godswill Akpabio for what he described as “cheap politics” and an attempt to “trivialize a serious issue.” Saraki was responding to Akpabio’s claim that calls for transparency in investigating allegations against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan were part of a plot to remove a Niger Delta politician from office.
In a statement signed by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki urged Akpabio to carefully read his March 1, 2025, press statement, emphasizing that nowhere did he call for the Senate President’s resignation. Instead, Saraki maintained that Akpabio should prioritize the integrity of the legislative body by ensuring a transparent investigation into the allegations.
“The attention of the Abubakar Bukola Saraki Media Office has been drawn to Akpabio’s statement, where he suggested that individuals from Kwara and Adamawa States want him removed because he hails from the Niger Delta,” the statement read. “Ordinarily, Dr. Saraki would have ignored this, but the attempt to politicize and trivialize a matter threatening the credibility of the legislature necessitates a response.”
Saraki reiterated that his intervention was not about Akpoti-Uduaghan personally or the validity of her claims. Instead, he argued that since the allegations were made publicly against a presiding officer, the Senate must ensure a fair, open, and unbiased investigation. He pointed out that constitutional provisions, Senate rules, and established precedents exist for handling such cases.
The former Senate President rejected Akpabio’s framing of the issue as an ethnic or political battle, stressing that his stance would remain the same regardless of the individuals involved.
“This is not about APC versus PDP, North versus South, or any other form of political or ethnic division. It is about ensuring that the Senate does not create the perception of shielding cases of sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and abuse of office. Exploiting ethnic sentiments to evade accountability does not serve the Senate or its leadership,” Saraki stated.
He further emphasized that allegations of sexual harassment and mistreatment of women should never be dismissed lightly, as they resonate deeply with the struggles faced by countless women across the country. “When such matters arise within the legislative institution, they must be handled with utmost transparency to ensure justice is done and seen to be done,” he added.
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Saraki reaffirmed his call for an open and honest investigation, stating that it was necessary to uphold public and international confidence in the Senate.
“Defending the integrity of the legislature is a cause for which I, and others before me, have made sacrifices. I will continue to speak up for what is right,” Saraki concluded.
