Senate Scandal: Deputy Chief Whip Defends Akpabio, Slams Opponents For ‘Falsehoods’

Senate Scandal: Deputy Chief Whip Defends Akpabio, Slams Opponents For ‘Falsehoods’

The Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Onyekachi Peter Nwebonyi, has dismissed recent accusations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio as baseless and politically motivated. He urged Nigerians to recognize these allegations as attempts to destabilize the Senate for personal and political gains…….READ MORE 

Nwebonyi’s statement follows remarks by former Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who called for transparency in addressing claims against Akpabio. However, Nwebonyi argued that unlike Saraki’s past case—an administrative issue over an official vehicle—the allegations against Akpabio are unsubstantiated and strategically timed to evade disciplinary actions.

He specifically criticized Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who recently accused Akpabio of sexual harassment. Nwebonyi questioned why she made no prior complaints within the Senate or to female colleagues, suggesting that the claims emerged only after she faced disciplinary proceedings.

The Deputy Chief Whip accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of a history of making reckless allegations against notable figures, including Reno Omokri, Dino Melaye, and Yahaya Bello, arguing that her claims consistently lack evidence.

To address the controversy, Nwebonyi outlined three key steps:

1. Akpoti-Uduaghan should face the Senate Ethics Committee regarding her alleged misconduct.
2. If she has a genuine harassment claim, she should pursue legal action through appropriate channels.
3. The Senate should not be distracted by what he called a “campaign of falsehood” aimed at avoiding accountability.

Emphasizing that the Senate operates based on law and reason rather than sentiment, Nwebonyi urged Nigerians not to allow blackmail to influence the institution’s agenda.