Senate Unanimously Passes Vote of Confidence in President Akpabio

The Nigerian Senate has overwhelmingly passed a vote of confidence in its President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, amid ongoing allegations.

The decision, reached during Thursday’s plenary, comes just 48 hours after Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central), the suspended Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, addressed the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in New York. She alleged that her suspension stemmed from raising accusations of sexual harassment against Akpabio.

In response, the Senate urged Nigerians to disregard the allegations, emphasizing that the matter is already before the court. Citing Order 40 of its standing rules, lawmakers maintained that the Senate cannot interfere in an issue under judicial consideration.

The motion for the vote of confidence was moved by Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central) and seconded by Deputy Minority Leader Olalere Oyewumi (Osun West), receiving unanimous approval from the chamber.