Indigenes of Kogi Central, under the aegis of the Ebira Youth Leaders Forum (EYLF), have spoken out against the sexual harassment allegations leveled against Senate President Godswill Akpabio by their representative, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The controversy has sparked reactions and counter-reactions over the past two weeks, with over 100 women’s groups apologizing to Akpabio for the senator’s conduct. Meanwhile, the former Akwa Ibom governor has continued to receive solidarity from various groups and prominent individuals.
The latest backlash comes from Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s constituents, who have not only passed a vote of no confidence in her but have also labeled her a serial blackmailer who frequently uses sexual harassment as a tactic.
In a statement on Wednesday, the group expressed disappointment in their senator’s behavior, stating that she has failed to represent the Ebira people honorably.
The statement, signed by Dr. Adoza Dahiru, General Secretary of EYLF, questioned why the allegation only surfaced after she was removed from the Senate Committee on Local Content and later had her Senate seat reassigned.
They accused her of attempting to tarnish the reputation of Akpabio and the Senate President’s office with malicious intent.
> “The events panning out in the Senate in recent times, with our own representative at the centre stage, are very disgraceful and generally cast we, the cultured and mannered people of the Ebira ethnic nationality, in a bad light.”
The group further criticized her approach to governance, arguing that she has focused more on controversies rather than effective representation.
> “This is a woman who just through the intervention of the judiciary found herself in the Senate, but instead of drawing an agenda rooted in effective representation of the people, she has found a trade in demeaning the revered office of the number three citizen of our dear country.”
They alleged that Akpoti-Uduaghan has a history of making unproven sexual harassment claims against prominent figures, including former presidential aide Reno Omokri, ex-Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye, and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
> “It is on record that her series of sexual harassment blackmail against top figures in the past have all ended up unproven.”
The group emphasized their vote of no confidence, citing her poor performance in office.
> “We hereby pass a vote of no confidence on her for not only projecting us in a bad light but for performing extremely poorly as a representative of the people.”
They claimed that aside from solar street lighting and the Mini LNG plants in Ajaokuta, which they attribute to President Bola Tinubu, she has no major projects to her name.
The Ebira Youth Leaders also noted that her conduct explains why female Senators, both past and present, do not support her. They urged her to accept her suspension, study Senate rules, and stop seeking solutions where none exist.
They concluded that the people of Kogi Central will reevaluate her position once her suspension is over.
