The Kogi State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has vehemently condemned the ongoing harassment of Senator Natasha Akpoti, representing Kogi Central, by the leadership of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In a statement signed by Alhaji Tijani Aruwa, the PDP called on Senator Akpabio to reconsider his leadership approach and seek guidance from former Senate President Bukola Saraki on effective Senate management. The party described the current Senate under Akpabio as a “joke,” where dictatorial practices overshadow national interests, and senators are treated based on Akpabio’s personal preferences rather than the collective good.
The PDP urged civil society organizations and women’s rights groups to unite in defense of female lawmakers, highlighting a troubling trend of harassment against women in the National Assembly under Akpabio’s leadership. They pointed to a recent incident where Senator Ireti Kingibe was denied the opportunity to present her motion, prompting a heated exchange that led to her exiting the chamber in frustration.
The party emphasized that Senator Natasha Akpoti serves as a strong voice for Northern politics and the marginalized within the Senate. They called on fellow senators to stand up against what they termed Akpabio’s dictatorship, warning that such persistent harassment undermines the principles of democracy and creates an unfavorable environment for legislative discourse.
