ABUJA—Former presidential spokesman Laolu Akande has criticized the leadership of the Nigerian Senate, accusing them of attempting to silence Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan after she alleged sexual harassment by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Akande, speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, condemned what he described as a coordinated effort by Senate leaders to undermine Akpoti-Uduaghan.
“They need to stop all these images, meetings, and ganging up against this woman. That has to stop,” he said. “The leadership of the Senate needs to show us that there is going to be a dispassionate consideration of her allegations.”
Akpabio has denied the accusations, insisting, “I have never harassed any woman.” However, Akande warned that the Senate’s response risked creating the impression of institutional suppression.
“This woman has said to the whole world that she has been sexually harassed. We have to be careful, the Nigerian Senate has to be careful not to create an impression that we are trying to silence her,” Akande said.
He added, “What we have seen so far is a lot of men holding meetings, speaking out, coming to the media to run this woman down. It is a poor reflection on the Nigerian Senate.”
The controversy has sparked widespread debate, with calls for an independent and transparent investigation into Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims.
