Ezekwesili Demands Transparency After Senate Rejects Akpoti’s Harassment Petition

Oby Ezekwesili, former Minister of Education, has condemned the Nigerian Senate for dismissing Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan's sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. After Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of harassment, the Senate's Ethics Committee deemed her petition 'dead on arrival,' a move Ezekwesili criticized as undermining the Senate's credibility and a 'democratic aberration.' She called for an independent investigation and a public hearing, emphasizing that the National Assembly belongs to the Nigerian people, not politicians. Ezekwesili described the Senate's handling of the matter as farcical and a blot on democracy, insisting on the need for transparency in such serious allegations. The Senate has since suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan, which many believe is linked to her accusations against Akpabio. Ezekwesili's demands highlight the importance of accountability and proper procedure in addressing allegations of misconduct within the legislative body.