Kola Ologbondiyan, former National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has expressed concern over the repeated votes of confidence passed o Senate President Godswill Akpabio, describing the trend as “worrisome.”
Ologbondiyan made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday evening.
The Senate had earlier on Thursday passed a unanimous vote of confidence in Akpabio, following a motion moved by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central) and seconded by Deputy Minority Leader Olarere Oyewumi (Osun West). This latest vote came just 48 hours after suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan addressed the Inter-Parliamentary Union in New York, where she reiterated her sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio.
Ologbondiyan noted that Akpabio has had nearly four votes of confidence in less than two years, a development he finds troubling. He explained that such votes are typically passed during periods of crisis to reassure the presiding officer of the support of the chamber.
“On the issue of sexual harassment and vote of confidence, I think Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, will be the first President of the Senate that will have sequentially close to three or four votes of confidence in a space of less than two years, and I think that should be worrisome to himself, and to the Senate as an institution,” Ologbondiyan said.
He added, “Because the concept of vote of confidence, if you understudy it, it shows that there is crisis, and the presiding officer needs to be protected or needs to be reassured that the floor is with him. That is why you talk about the vote of confidence. So I think that the fact that vote of confidence has become a recurrent decimal in this particular Senate shows that there is no peace in the Senate. And if there is peace in the Senate, then it means that it could be a peace of the graveyard.”
Tax Reform Bills: A Welcome Development
Ologbondiyan also commented on the Senate’s passage of the Tax Reform bills for a second reading, describing it as a positive step. He emphasized that if properly processed, the bills could significantly improve the electoral system.
“If it’s well processed, it could be an improvement on the electoral system. However, since the bills are going to go through public hearings and Nigerians will have the opportunity to review, study and make sure that it is not in favour of any group or persons or party, it is a welcome development,” he stated.
He further noted that the bills would undergo public scrutiny, allowing Nigerians to examine their provisions and ensure they serve the broader interest. “So we will all wait until when it goes to the public hearing, and Nigerians will have the opportunity to examine that. Until that is done, I don’t think it requires a lot of comments,” Ologbondiyan added.
Broader Implications
The repeated votes of confidence in Akpabio have sparked debates about the stability and unity within the Senate. Critics argue that the frequency of such votes suggests underlying tensions and a lack of cohesion among lawmakers. Meanwhile, supporters of the Senate President maintain that the votes reflect the confidence and trust his colleagues have in his leadership.
As the Senate prepares to hold public hearings on the Tax Reform bills, all eyes will be on how the legislative body addresses the concerns raised by Ologbondiyan and other stakeholders. The outcome of these hearings could have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s electoral system and governance.
The developments in the Senate continue to draw attention, with many Nigerians keenly observing how the leadership navigates these challenges in the coming months.
