By Oyinkansayo Wole-Bodunde.
The Nigerian Senate’s recent actions have led to outrage and concerns about democratic governance.
Despite allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the Senate passed a vote of confidence in him, with many criticizing the move as a shameful display of tyranny.
The controversy began when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, leading to her six-month suspension from the Senate. The suspension has been widely condemned as unconstitutional, citing Sections 68 and 69 of the 1999 Constitution, which outline the lawful processes for a legislator to lose their seat.
Many judicial rulings have declared legislative suspensions unlawful, including the cases of Honourable Dino Melaye v House of Representatives (2009) and Ali Ndume v Senate President & Ors (2018). These rulings emphasize that lawmakers cannot be arbitrarily removed by their peers.
The Senate’s Ethics Committee has also been criticized for dismissing the allegations against Akpabio without a fair and neutral review, violating Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right to a fair hearing.
The principle of Nemo Judex in Causa Sua (no one should be a judge in their own case) has been disregarded in this matter, with Akpabio presiding over the session that led to Natasha’s suspension. This has led to accusations of a conflict of interest and political vendetta.
The Nigerian public has expressed anger over the Senate’s actions, with many calling for the immediate reinstatement of Senator Natasha and an end to the intimidation and harassment of legislators. Women’s rights groups have also condemned the Senate’s actions, stating the under-representation of women in Nigeria’s governance structures and the need to protect them from sexual harassment.
As the controversy continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the Nigerian Senate’s actions have undermined democracy. The international community, including the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), has noticed this with the IPU reportedly set to invite Akpabio to discuss the matter.
In response to the backlash, the Senate has defended its decision, claiming that Natasha’s suspension was due to misconduct, not the sexual harassment allegations. However, many stated the Senate’s history of disregarding judicial rulings.
