March 07, (THEWILL) – Kinsmen of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, under the Annang ethnic nationality in Akwa Ibom State, have called for the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, over the recent sexual harassment controversy involving Akpabio.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday at the Afe Annang Secretariat in Abak Local Government Area, the Itai Afe Annang, His Majesty Obong Blaise Awaka-ama, described the allegations as baseless and politically motivated.
“We are not satisfied with just the suspension by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions. We call on the people of Kogi Central to either properly advise or replace their senator in the National Assembly,” Awaka-ama said.
The statement, signed by Awaka-ama and the Secretary General of the Annang socio-cultural group, Prof. Kingsley Akpabio, condemned what it described as an attempt to tarnish Akpabio’s reputation using a routine Senate seating arrangement change as a pretext.
According to the group, seating adjustments following recent political cross-carpeting affected multiple senators, not just Akpoti-Uduaghan. They expressed disbelief at how the matter escalated into allegations of sexual harassment.
“It is curious that an ordinary change in seating arrangements, which affected several senators, is now being framed as an act of discrimination or harassment. This is a clear case of political maneuvering,” the statement read.
The Annang elders further questioned why Akpoti-Uduaghan did not include sexual harassment claims in her lawsuit against Akpabio at the Federal High Court in Abuja. They also cited testimonies from other senators who were allegedly present during her visit to Akpabio’s residence in Uyo, dismissing the claims.
“We have seen and listened to media reports, including recorded interviews where Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan admitted visiting Senator Akpabio’s home with her husband. Are we now to believe that the Senate President and her husband jointly, severally, and mutually harassed her?” the statement queried.
The group accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of orchestrating protests at the National Assembly to force Akpabio’s resignation, warning that the Annang people would resist any political plot to unseat their kinsman.
“No female senator should be used as a tool to defame our son. If there is an organized plan to remove him from office, we will not sit idly by and allow it to happen,” the statement added.
The group maintained that Akpabio, as Senate President, deserves to be treated with honor and not subjected to what they described as politically motivated harassment.
