The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs) have jointly condemned the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In a statement, Deputy National Publicity Secretary, CNPP, Comrade James Ezema and National Secretary, CNCSOs, Alhaji Ali Abacha, described the suspension as “hurried and malicious” and a blatant attempt to silence a courageous lawmaker who dared to submit a petition alleging sexual harassment against the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

Ezema and Abacha noted that the suspension reeks of bias, injustice, and a deliberate disregard for due process. “It is even more deeply troubling that the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions ignored a Federal High Court order restraining it from proceeding with disciplinary actions against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan,” they said.

The CNPP and CNCSOs demanded that Senator Akpabio must immediately step aside as President of the Senate to allow for an independent and impartial investigation into the allegations of sexual harassment against him. “The Senate must constitute an expanded, independent probe panel to investigate these allegations, with live coverage of the proceedings by all interested local and international media organizations,” Ezema and Abacha said.

The groups issued a seven-day ultimatum to Senator Akpabio to publicly announce his recusal and demonstrate his willingness to face an impartial and transparent probe panel. “Failure to comply will leave the CNPP and CNCSOs with no choice but to mobilize Nigerians to stage a sustained occupation of the National Assembly until Senator Akpabio steps down as President of the Senate,” Ezema said.

Abacha added that the groups will actively engage and rally Nigerians in the Diaspora to pressure their host countries to revoke travel privileges for the President of the Senate and all principal officers of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for their roles in the unjust and unfair treatment of female lawmakers in Nigeria.

Ezema and Abacha emphasized that the Nigerian people deserve a Senate that upholds the principles of justice, fairness, and accountability in a manner that is acceptable to the majority of citizens. “We will not relent in our pursuit of these ideals as we believe that the stability of the country is rooted in them,” they said.