Former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has cautioned Senate President Godswill Akpabio against politicizing calls for due process in addressing allegations leveled against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In a statement issued by his media office and signed by Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki described Akpabio’s claim that the calls for transparency were an attempt to remove a Niger Delta politician from office as “cheap politics and a trivialization of a serious issue.”
Saraki emphasized that his statement, released on March 1, 2025, did not call for Akpabio’s resignation but rather urged him to ensure that the Senate investigates the allegations thoroughly and fairly.
“The attention of the Abubakar Bukola Saraki Media Office has been drawn to a statement by the Senate President suggesting that individuals from Kwara and Adamawa States are seeking his removal due to his regional background,” the statement read. “Ordinarily, Dr. Saraki would have ignored such claims, but politicizing a matter that threatens the integrity and credibility of the Senate cannot be overlooked.”
Saraki reiterated that his position was not about taking sides in the matter but about safeguarding the image of the legislature. He stressed the importance of handling the allegations with transparency to prevent perceptions of a cover-up regarding issues such as sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and abuse of office.
He further noted that constitutional provisions, Senate rules, and established precedents exist to guide such investigations, and urged Akpabio to follow due process rather than inflaming ethnic and political sentiments.
“This is not about political party affiliation or regional identity,” Saraki stated. “It is about upholding the integrity of the Senate. To frame it otherwise is disingenuous and unhelpful.”
He urged Akpabio to focus on addressing the issue responsibly rather than diverting attention through ethnic and political narratives.
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