The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs) have called for the immediate withdrawal of the six-month suspension imposed on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan following her sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

In a joint statement issued on Sunday in Kaduna, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of CNPP, James Ezema, and National Secretary of CNCSOs, Alhaji Ali Abacha, also demanded that Akpabio step down as Senate President to allow for an independent investigation into the allegations. They insisted that a neutral panel be set up, with proceedings broadcast live by both local and international media to ensure transparency.

The groups issued a seven-day ultimatum to Akpabio, urging him to recuse himself and submit to an impartial probe. Failure to do so, they warned, would result in mass protests at the National Assembly until he steps down.

Ezema said: “Failure to comply will leave the CNPP and CNCSOs with no choice but to mobilize Nigerians, men, women, and youth alike—to stage a sustained occupation of the National Assembly until Senator Akpabio steps down as President of the Senate.”

CNPP and CNCSOs further vowed to engage the Nigerian diaspora to lobby foreign governments into revoking travel privileges for Akpabio and Senate leaders over their handling of female lawmakers.

Ezema revealed that efforts were already underway to collaborate with women in the U.S. Congress and the U.K. Parliament to advocate for the withdrawal of legislative cooperation with the Nigerian Senate.

The groups said, “We will actively engage and rally Nigerians in the Diaspora to pressure their host countries to revoke travel privileges for the President of the Senate and all principal officers of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for their roles in the unjust and unfair treatment of female lawmakers in Nigeria.”

“In addition, we have initiated strategic efforts to connect with women in the United States Congress and the United Kingdom Parliament, urging them to advocate for the withdrawal of all forms of legislative cooperation with the Nigerian Senate”.

“This action is in response to the Senate’s blatant suppression of women’s voices in parliament and its discouragement of women’s participation in Nigerian politics.

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“Our fears and demands are rooted in the history of unaddressed allegations against Senator Akpabio, including budget padding from 2023 to date, sexual harassment claims by the former managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), alleged mismanagement of funds during his tenure as Governor of Akwa Ibom State as well as Minister of Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, and other unresolved accusations too numerous to list. We refuse to allow the current allegations by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to be swept under the rug like so many others.

“The Nigerian people deserve a Senate that upholds the principles of justice, fairness, and accountability in a manner that is acceptable to majority of citizens. We will not relent in our pursuit of these ideals as we believe that the stability of the country is rooted in them.”

Besides, both CNPP and CNCSOs while also reacting to the statement issued by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, attempting to justify the actions of the Senate, jointly condemn the hurried and malicious suspension of Senator Natasha by the Senate of the.

The groups strongly condemned Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, arguing that it was an orchestrated move to silence her for petitioning against Akpabio. They accused the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions of ignoring a Federal High Court order that barred it from taking disciplinary action against her.

“We see this suspension Senator Bamidele worked tirelessly to explain, as one orchestrated under the guise of disciplinary measures in a blatant attempt to silence a courageous lawmaker who dared to submit a petition alleging sexual harassment against the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio. For us, the six months suspension and stripping her of her security details as a draconian action meant to ‘teach other Senators a lesson”, the groups said.

“We’re convinced that Senate’s decision to suspend Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months reeks of bias, injustice, and a deliberate disregard for due process. It is even more deeply troubling that the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, acting on obvious script, ignored a Federal High Court order restraining it from proceeding with disciplinary actions against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.

“This valid court order, delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu following an ex-parte application by the Senator’s legal team, was flagrantly disregarded, portraying the Senate as a congregation of law-breakers rather than lawmakers.

“How can Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, as the leader of the Senate, justify the speed with which the Senate Committee concluded its probe, submitted its recommendations, and secured their wholesale adoption during plenary—presided over by Senator Godswill Akpabio, the very individual accused of sexual harassment? This urgency raises serious questions about the integrity of the process.”

“This sequence of events leaves no doubt in the minds of right-thinking Nigerians that the suspension is linked to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition and is an attempt to suppress her voice, contrary to the argument presented by the Senate Majority Leader.

“Allowing Senator Akpabio to preside over the plenary where Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended, despite court order, speaks volumes about the lack of impartiality and fairness in the Senate’s proceedings. It is unconscionable that an individual accused of such serious misconduct would sit in judgment over his accuser.

“This undermines the principles of justice and fairness and erodes public confidence in the Senate as a democratic institution and we don’t know how Senator Bamidele can convince Nigerians otherwise.”