Former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has criticised incumbent Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, for what he describes as an attempt to politicise and trivialise serious allegations levelled against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Saraki dismissed Akpabio’s claims that calls
for a transparent investigation were a ploy to remove a Niger Delta leader from office, calling it “cheap politics.”
In a statement signed by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki urged Akpabio to thoroughly read his earlier statement from March 1, 2025, to understand that he never suggested his resignation. Instead, Saraki emphasised the importance of ensuring a credible investigation into the allegations of sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and abuse of office made by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
“The attention of the Abubakar Bukola Saraki Media Office has been drawn to the statement made by Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio while addressing the leaders of some “youth ethnic groups” on Friday that certain individuals from Kwara and Adamawa States want him removed because he is from the Niger Delta region,” the statement read.
Saraki argued that the Senate President’s comments were a deliberate attempt to distract from the real issue—upholding the credibility of the legislative institution.
“Ordinarily, Dr. Saraki would have ignored the statement as a sign of the times in which we now live. However, its underlying motive of politicising and trivialising a serious issue that threatens the integrity, credibility, and importance of the legislature is the reason why we think we should not allow the Senate President to create a misleading impression of the issue at stake in the all-important institution that the National Assembly represents in our democracy,” the statement added
Saraki reiterated that his stance was not about political affiliations or ethnic backgrounds but about the Senate’s duty to maintain transparency and public trust. He stressed that public perception matters, and mishandling such serious allegations could damage the Senate’s reputation.
“This issue is definitely not one in which Akpabio should exploit ethnic sentiments, political division, or regional proclivity. This will neither be in his own interest nor that of the institution over which he is presiding. He should face the reality on ground and do what is right,” Saraki asserted.
He also highlighted that sexual harassment and gender discrimination are sensitive issues that affect countless women across society, and therefore, any allegations within the Senate must be handled with “utmost openness and transparency” to ensure justice is served.
Saraki concluded by reaffirming his call for an honest, transparent, and unbiased investigation.
“People like Dr. Saraki have made huge sacrifices in defending the integrity of the legislative institution and will not desist in speaking up for the right thing to be done,” the statement said.
