Sexual harassment: Akpabio under fire as group calls for Senate leadership change

A political pressure group, Action Collective, (AC), has called for the immediate resignation of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, Senator Neda Imasuen, to allow for an impartial investigation into allegations against the Senate President.

The group said their continued stay in office could compromise the integrity of any probe.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, the National Coordinator of the group, Dr. Onimisi Ibrahim, expressed concern over the handling of the sexual harassment case filed against Senator Akpabio by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, particularly following the recent withdrawal of Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The judge, who was presiding over the case, reportedly stepped down due to immense pressure, a situation the group described as “deeply troubling and a threat to judicial independence.”

According Action Collective, the Senate Ethics and Privileges Committee, which should play a crucial role in investigating the allegations, cannot be trusted under the leadership of Senator Imasuen, given his political ties to the Senate President.

“The only way to ensure a fair and transparent process is for both Akpabio and Imasuen to step aside and allow an independent inquiry to take place,” the group stated.

The pressure group further warned that the credibility of the National Assembly was at stake, emphasizing that Nigerians were watching closely.

“A legislature that cannot uphold ethical standards and protect victims of misconduct loses the moral right to perform oversight functions on the executive and judiciary,” the statement read.

It added that failure to act decisively on the matter could erode public trust in the Senate.

The group also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to shield the Senate President from scrutiny, describing the developments surrounding the case as a calculated attempt to silence Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.

It called on civil society organizations and pro-democracy groups to demand accountability from the leadership of the Senate and ensure that justice is not obstructed.