Senate President Godswill Akpabio says he never considered stepping aside from his role dismissing any such thoughts as baseless.
He made this clear during Thursday’s plenary session, reacting to a show of support from Senate Majority Leader, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele.
Bamidele, who has represented Ekiti Central since 2019, addressed the Senate with a direct message: those anticipating Akpabio’s resignation over sexual harassment claims must be disappointed by now.
He credited the Senate’s unity for standing with Akpabio and stressed a key point evidence matters.
“By now I’m sure you know, sir, that those who felt that by now, this Senate would have asked you to step down would have seen now that we are focused on what we are doing, and whatever the level of allegation against anyone of us, we will always ask for evidence, and we will do what is in overriding public interest. I just want to thank you, and I thank all our colleagues.”
Akpabio, in turn, made his stance unmistakable.
“To answer you, you said, ‘those who would have asked you to step down’, who told you I was going to step down due to false allegations?
READ ALSO: Akpabio Petitions Court to Delete Natasha’s Mock Apology
“If you watch the record in America, there are black people because of their skin, who went to prison…some 25 years for false allegations. So, I’m not one of those people.
“They will step down for false allegation and when it’s proven that the allegations are false, they say, ‘Oh, we were unfair to Akpabio.’ So, if you have that in mind, please cancel it.”
His statement comes days after suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan issued a sharp-tongued “apology” to Akpabio via Facebook. She claimed she was sorry for the “crime of maintaining dignity and self-respect.”
Now, Akpabio is asking a Federal High Court in Abuja to order her to take down the post.
The political tension continues to thicken, but one thing is clear: Akpabio isn’t stepping aside.