By James Adamu
Amid calls by critics that Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, should step down over allegations of sexual harassment and electoral misconduct, he replied on Thursday that he would never resign.
Akpabio said anyone who expected him to resign over false narratives must be a dreamer.
He has lately come under public scrutiny following the sexual harassment allegations levelled against him by suspended Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
A recent ruling of the Court of Appeal in Calabar also linked the Senate President to a 2019 electoral fraud.
The court upheld the conviction of Prof. Peter Ogban, who was accused of falsifying results for the Senate President.
But, on Thursday, Akpabio dismissed the allegations as โfrivolousโ and politically-motivated, insisting that he would not leave office in the absence of proof.
He said, โI will not allow myself to be a victim of a miscarriage of justice.โ
He was responding to remarks by Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, who had earlier called on lawmakers to remain focused on their legislative duties amid the ongoing controversies.
Although he acknowledged the publicโs right to scrutiny, the Senate President insisted that criticism must have evidence.
โI will not step down for false allegations,โ he said, citing the dangers of mob justice and pointing to historical cases of false accusations derailing public careers.
Defending the Senateโs legislative agenda, Akpabio highlighted the passage of key tax reforms and upcoming efforts to address electoral and constitutional reforms. โIn the last six months, we have worked tirelessly to ensure that the laws we pass serve the best interests of our country,โ he said, referring to bills introduced in November 2024 and the Senateโs engagement with stakeholders from across the executive, civil society, and professional groups.
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