Group Urges Akpabio to Submit to Probe, Warns Against Shielding Power from Accountability
ABUJA/Nigeria: A socio-political pressure group, Action Collective, has called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio to submit himself to an independent and thorough investigation over a sexual harassment allegation, warning that his refusal to do so and continued stay in office could obstruct due process and compromise the integrity of the legislative system.
The group insisted that Akpabio’s refusal to vacate his position is morally indefensible and urged him to take a cue from the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Professor Abayomi Fasina, who not only submitted himself to the panel setup by the University Governing Council, but voluntarily stepped aside following a similar accusation to facilitate a transparent inquiry.
Action Collective further reminded the public that the 9th Senate had, in July 2020, passed a landmark bill addressing sexual harassment in tertiary institutions. The bill, titled ‘A Bill for an Act to Prevent, Prohibit and Redress Sexual Harassment of Students in Tertiary Educational Institutions and for Matters Connected Therewith, 2019’, was sponsored by then Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege and co-sponsored by 106 senators, including Akpabio. The group stressed that the principle behind the law must apply to all institutions, including the National Assembly.
In a strongly worded statement signed by its National Coordinator, Mr. Teddy Onyejuwe, and released on Monday, April 14, 2025, Action Collective said Akpabio’s continued leadership of the Senate while under serious allegation sends a disturbing signal to citizens and the global community.
“It is morally indefensible for Senator Akpabio to remain in office while presiding over matters linked to his own alleged misconduct. His continued stay is an effort to perpetuate a process that may never lead to justice,” Onyejuwe said.
The group urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and compel Akpabio to step aside in order to preserve public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions. “The President must not watch in silence while the rights of Nigerian women are being trampled and our democracy eroded. Mr. President, history is watching. Do not let this become another case of elite impunity,” the statement read.
Action Collective also appealed to the judiciary to remain firm and independent in handling the matter. “This is not merely a personal scandal; it is a litmus test of our national values. If the judiciary fails to uphold justice, it will confirm the perception that Nigeria has little or no room for the advancement and protection of women,” Onyejuwe warned.
The group concluded its statement with a stern caution to the federal government, urging it not to ignore mounting public outrage. “The international community is watching closely. Any action that appears to shield the powerful at the expense of justice will further dent Nigeria’s image globally. This is no longer about one man it is about the soul of our democracy,” the group warned.
