Natasha: allegations are a scheme to disrupt the productive relationship between Tinubu and the National Assembly – APC forum.
The North Central All Progressive Congress (APC) forum has dismissed the sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio made by Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as a fabrication by opposition parties.
The APC forum also cautioned that the situation could lead to a brakdown of law and order in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and destabilize President Tinubu’s administration.
This warning followed the “Akpabio must go” protests at the National Assembly on Wednesday where Natasha’s supporters demanded that the Senate President step down pending an investigation into the sexual harassment claims against him.
Protesters gathered at the National Assembly gate as early as 8:am on Wednesday , holding banners with messages like “Akpabio Must Go” and Protect Women’s Rights”. They demanded accountability and called on the Senate to investigate the allegations against Akpabio.
In response, the North Central APC forum issued a statement on Wednesday in Abuja through its chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga who is also a member of the APC presidential campaign council in 2023 election. He claimed that the protesters were deliberately mobilized in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The APC forum gave the protesters a 24 hour deadline to vacate the streets of FCT.
“We are putting the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, DSS, and other security agencies on the alert over the plot to cause anarchy and unrest in the FCT by sponsored protesters who have been mobilized to cause trouble to advance the political agenda of the opposition.
“We are, by this statement, giving the protesters and their sponsors 24 hours to vacate the streets of the FCT. As stakeholders of the North-Central, which includes the FCT, we can’t stand by and watch as hoodlums and anarchists cause a breakdown of law and order in the capital city, which has been known for peace and tranquility since the coming of the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“Failing to vacate the streets of the FCT in 24 hours, we will mobilize our people to counter them,” parts of the statement read
The forum argued that the sexual harassment allegations were part of a scheme to blackmail Akpabio and undermine the APC government, emphasizing that there is no evidence linking the Senate President to the alleged misconduct.
Pointing out that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was not the only lawmaker to have her seat reassigned in the chamber, the APC forum questioned why she remained silent on the allegationns against Akpabio until she was set to be investigated by the Committee on Ethics and Privileges and Violating Rules.
“Does it mean that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan would have kept silent on the purported sexual harassment if Senate President Godswill Akpabio had not referred her to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges for investigation for breach of Senate Rules?
“Senate President Godswill Akpabio has proved himself to be an effective leader of the National Assembly, leading to a harmonious and productive relationship between the executive and the legislature, which has enabled President Bola Tinubu’s government to initiate and implement several transformative reforms.
“What is playing out in the Senate at the moment is a script by the opposition to destabilize the National Assembly and, by extension, the administration of President Bola Tinubu by derailing the fruitful working relationship between the executive and the legislature.
“We urge all members of our party and well-meaning Nigerians to rise up against this sinister plot, which should not be allowed to succeed.
“The North-Central APC Forum is also calling on the Senate and the National Assembly as a whole not to be distracted by the antics of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and her co-travelers, whose motive is to destabilize the system for their selfish political interests,” the statement added.
Although Natasha Akpoti-Udughan represents Kogi Central Senatorial District in Kogi state, which is part of the North Central region, the forum emphasized that stakeholders from the area do not support her actions.
“Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is from our zone, but as stakeholders of the North-Central, we disown her actions, which we believe are not in the interest of the progress and development of the region and the country as a whole,” the statement said.
During the plenary on Wednesday, Akpabio denied the sexual harassment allegations against any woman.
Earlier, Natasha Akpoti-Udughan submitted a petition accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment. The petition was formally presented on the floor of upper legislative chamber after the senate resumed plenary.
The Senate had previously stated that it was not investigating the allegations due to the absence of formal petition against Akpabio.
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