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Hundreds of demonstrators advocating for Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from Kogi Central Senatorial District descended upon the National Assembly on Wednesday in response to sexual harassment accusations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The crowd, largely consisting of women and men from Kogi, was led by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal representative, who urged the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions to step aside from the inquiry.
This protest follows a contentious disagreement between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio regarding the reassignment of her Senate seat.
During the demonstration, which commenced at approximately 8:00 AM, the frustrated protesters also called for Akpabio’s resignation to ensure an impartial investigation into the accusations.
Victor Giwa, Akpoti-Uduaghan's attorney, mentioned during the march that the chairman and members of the Senate Committee on Ethics, selected by the Senate President, should not be anticipated to be unbiased.
Additionally, Giwa stated that his law firm has secured a court injunction to suspend the committee's activities. As the protest unfolded, it was reported that officers from the Nigerian Police Force took swift action to disperse the gathering, preventing them from accessing the National Assembly Complex.
It was noted that the protesters, who had gathered at the Assembly gate, were cleared out using tear gas to avert any potential unrest.
