On Friday, a few opposition senators, led by Seriake Dickson (third from right), visited Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s house (third from left). On Friday, a group of senators from opposition parties paid suspended Kogi Central senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan a visit at her residence.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
Former Bayelsa state governor Seriake Dickson led the group. Dickson posted a picture of the visit on his social media accounts. Dickson was a member of the Senate’s ethics and privileges committee, which suggested Akpoti-Uduaghan be suspended. He said that on the day of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, he was unable to attend senate sessions due to his involvement with the tax reform proposals.
“The public may remember that I have been attending the three-day workshop on the Tax Reform Bills for the past three days, which began on Wednesday, March 5th, and ended this evening, Friday, March 7th,” he stated. This is the reason I was unable to attend yesterday’s meeting of the Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, Privileges, and Public Petitions regarding the suspension of our colleague, Distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan. The Committee Chairman has assured me that the hearing will take place on Wednesday, March 11th, for which notices have already been sent. Yesterday’s emergency seating was not communicated to me.
“After wrapping up the retreat this evening, I accompanied a group of senators from opposition parties to visit our colleague Senator Natasha and had a meeting with her and her spouse at their residence.” Senators experience their highs and lows like everyone else, according to Dickson, “and it is a tradition for Senators to support each other during these moments.”
He said, “We offered prayers, words of encouragement, and guidance on a speedy resolution of the issues surrounding her suspension.” “After hearing more from her and her husband for the first time, I will talk with my colleagues about how to step in and work with the Senate leadership to find a quick solution to the problems.”
After declining her new seat in the higher parliamentary chamber, Akpoti-Uduaghan was placed on six-month suspension on Thursday. The argument turned into the senator from Kogi accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment. Her suspension has generated a lot of discussion and criticism, especially from civil society organizations and women’s rights groups. The suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan has been denounced by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which claims that Akpabio’s action is blatantly a cover-up attempt.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
