Women group urges fair hearing, plans solidarity march

Kinsmen of the embattled Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in the Ochiga-Ihima community of Kogi State have pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to wade into the messy crisis involving her and Senate President Godswill Akpabio on the floor of the Red Chamber over seat reallocation.

They also sought the state governor, Ahmed Ododo’s intervention. Aside from the duo, the peacemakers equally implored the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies to restore Akpoti-Uduaghan’s security details, “to ensure her safety and unnecessary exposure to the antics of mischief makers, enemies and detractors.”

The concerned kinsmen, subsequently, called for an independent investigative body to investigate the impasse. In a statement signed by the secretary of Ochiga-Ihima Descendants Union, Alhaji Abdul-Aziz Sani, yesterday in Ilorin, the people added: “The verdict of ‘guilty as charged’ is the probable outcome. Hence, an independent investigative body or court will best guarantee fair hearing and credible adjudication.”

According to them, the Senate Ethics Committee has lost its credibility to objectively handle the matter, noting: “The odds are heavily stacked against Natasha.”

While calling for the unconditional lifting of the six-month suspension slammed on her, the kinsmen stated: “To cajole Natasha to apologise to Akpabio or the Assembly in exchange for lifting her six months suspension is not justice. We expect the Assembly to introspect, and look inward in order to protect her collective public/international image.”

SIMILARLY, a group, Every Woman Hope Centre (EWHC), has urged relevant authorities to ensure due process in the handling.  The organisation, which focuses on women’s rights and empowerment, canvassed a thorough and transparent investigation into the matter to uphold democratic principles and justice in the country.

At a press conference in Abuja, EWHC’s Founder and Executive Director, Mrs Edel-Quinn Antisesbu, criticised what she described as a disregard for Akpoti-Uduaghan’s right to a fair hearing, stressing that any proven wrongdoing should be punished accordingly to maintain the integrity of the Senate.

The group condemned Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, stating that it not only silenced the female lawmaker but also left Kogi Central Senatorial Zone without representation.

It expressed concerns about women’s participation in politics, describing the development as a reflection of the country’s “entrenched culture of silence and stigmatisation against women.” The group announced plans to mobilise Nigerian women in solidarity.