Former Minister of Education and renowned public policy advocate, Oby Ezekwesili, has called for an independent and transparent investigation into the sexual harassment and abuse of power allegations leveled against Senate President Godswill Akpabio by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The petition, which has sparked widespread debate, accuses Akpabio of misconduct, adding to the weeks of controversy surrounding the two senators. Despite the seriousness of the allegations, the Senate dismissed the petition without an open discussion, a move that has drawn strong criticism from the public and civil society groups.
In a letter addressed to the Nigerian Senate, Ezekwesili made two key demands:
- The immediate appointment of an independent investigator to probe the sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio.
- Elevating the ongoing proceedings by the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges to a public hearing to ensure full transparency and accountability.
She emphasized that the National Assembly, comprising the Senate and the House of Representatives, is a public institution that belongs to the Nigerian people, not a tool for personal or political advantage.
Ezekwesili condemned the decision by senators to dismiss the allegations outright, calling it a “democratic aberration” that cannot be allowed to stand. She further criticized the fact that Akpabio presided over a session deliberating on allegations against him, describing it as “farcical and a blot on Nigeria’s democracy.”
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With the case already dominating public discourse for weeks, Ezekwesili stressed that Nigerians demand transparency and justice. She urged the Senate to uphold its institutional integrity by treating Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition with the seriousness it deserves, assuring Nigerians that abuse of power and sexual misconduct will not be tolerated at any level of governance.
