Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has said he will not resign from his position despite mounting pressure from civil society organisations (CSOs) and other groups.
Akpabio has been in the eye of the storm over allegations of sexual harassment and claims linking him to electoral fraud in the 2019 general election.
In March, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi central, was suspended, following an altercation she had with Akpabio in February over the seating arrangement in the red chamber.
Speaking during the plenary, Akpabio responded to remarks by Opeyemi Bamidele, senate leader, who urged lawmakers to remain focused on their legislative responsibilities amid distractions.
Akpabio said the allegations against him are false and insisted that he would not allow himself to become a victim of injustice.
“I will not have answered you, but for the fact that you said those who would have asked you to step down. Who told you I was going to step down?” he said.
“You know, if you watch the colour of America, there are Black people who went to prison for false allegations. Some were there for 25 years.
“So, I’m not one of those people who will step down over false allegations. When it is eventually proven that the allegation is false, they will say, ‘Oh well… I’m not that bad.’
“So if you had that in mind, please cancel it. I must thank you for the words you spoke today.”
