The President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio has rejected calls for his resignation amid ongoing allegations of sexual harassment and electoral fraud.
Akpabio insisted he will not step down over what he described as politically motivated falsehoods.
While speaking during Thursday’s Senate session, Akpabio responded to Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele’s appeal for lawmakers to stay focused and not demand resignations over mere accusations.
He said: “Who told you I was going to step down? I’m not one of those people who will resign due to false allegations. In America, there are Black men who spent 25 years in prison over lies. Once the truth comes out, people just shrug. I won’t be a victim of that.”
Akpabio is currently facing accusations from suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the lawmaker representing Kogi Central as well as claims of involvement in a 2019 electoral fraud case—allegations he strongly refutes.
He also addressed remarks made by Defence Minister Muhammed Badaru, who recently downplayed the need for the Senate’s proposed national security summit.
Akpabio stressed that the minister must attend in his official capacity and that any disagreements with Senate resolutions should be handled discreetly and respectfully.
“If the Defence Ministry has issues with Senate resolutions, it shouldn’t be addressed in the public domain. Let’s avoid unnecessary executive-legislative clashes,” he said.
Badaru had argued that while summits offer valuable input, actual strategy remains more vital, citing the military’s capabilities and the challenges posed by terrorist informants.
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