Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has rejected the sexual harassment petition filed against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, citing constitutional violations and the ongoing court case on the allegations.
Bamidele argued that the petition, signed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, failed to meet Senate procedural rules and should not be entertained.
Senator Bamidele, representing Ekiti Central, made his stance clear during the Senate plenary session on Wednesday.
He referenced specific sections of the Nigerian Constitution and Senate rules to support his argument, stating, “Section 60 of which says we shall regulate our procedure.
“Secondly, we are guided by the rules of this Senate. Section 40, Subsection 4 of which also says no senator shall personally sign a petition to be laid before this Senate.”
He further emphasised that the issue was not about the Senate Committee on Ethics but about whether the matter should have been referred to any committee at all.
“It’s not about the committee on ethics,” he said.
“It’s not about waiting for the committee to take a decision, it is about whether this matter is right to be referred to the committee.”
Bamidele also accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of handling the issue emotionally.
“Mr Senate President, you were being emotional because you didn’t want to be seen as trying to stop this allegation.
“That’s why you even allowed it to be referred to the Senate, by referring it to the committee that is not competent to stand before the Senate. That is the issue.”
He acknowledged that the petition was signed by Akpoti-Uduaghan, saying, “It was signed by the most distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for whom I have a lot of respect. We cannot rewrite our rules because of anyone and will be setting a dangerous precedent.”
The Senate Leader reiterated that the Senate operates based on constitutional provisions and parliamentary customs.
“Other than the Constitution and the rules, the Senate is guided by constitution and conventions, parliamentary customs and conventions in all of this,” he said.
He then outlined the two main reasons why the petition should be discarded.
“Mr President, this rule, this petition cannot stand for two reasons,” he said.
“One, the issues and allegations of sexual harassment are already issued before the court and two, because it is defective and is in violation of order 40 sub-section 4 of our rules.”
Concluding his argument, Bamidele urged the Senate to move on from the issue.
“And it is in view of this, Mr President, I just want to say that there is no way we can accept this petition.
“And I have said this, Mr President, may I, most respectfully, we should go to the next issue of the day.”
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had submitted the petition during Wednesday’s plenary session, citing Senate Rule 40. She alleged that Akpabio blocked her motions on the Senate floor as retaliation for rejecting his sexual advances.
However, Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu previously dismissed the allegations, stating that there was no formal petition before the Senate and stressing that all matters must follow due parliamentary process.