A stormy Senate hearing on Tuesday saw sharp exchanges between former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili, Kogi Central lawmaker Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s supporters, and members of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Petitions.
The hearing, which centered around Akpoti-Uduaghan’s sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, grew heated when accusations of bias were leveled against the committee chair, Senator Neda Imasuen.
The situation escalated when Ezekwesili, who appeared as a witness, clashed with Senator Peter Nwebonyi in a shouting match.
Ezekwesili insisted on her right to speak, but the lawmakers dismissed her, citing procedural norms. Tensions deepened as the petitioner, Suberu Yakubu, demanded the resignation of Imasuen for perceived bias, which further angered the committee.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) raised concerns over the recall petition against Akpoti-Uduaghan, highlighting that the petitioners failed to follow the required guidelines, particularly in providing complete contact details.
The petition, backed by 250,000 constituents, lacked sufficient information for proper verification, putting the recall process in jeopardy.
In a dramatic twist, the PDP accused Akpabio of orchestrating the recall to target Akpoti-Uduaghan, while constituents questioned the legitimacy of the petition, alleging it was fabricated.
The case has now been referred to the Federal High Court after Justice Obiora Egwuatu recused himself due to accusations of bias related to Akpabio.
With the case embroiled in legal and procedural chaos, the Senate’s handling of the situation remains under scrutiny, and Akpoti-Uduaghan’s political future hangs in the balance.
