Former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Ologbondiyan, has raised concerns over the repeated votes of confidence passed on Senate President Godswill Akpabio. He believes the trend points to instability within the Senate.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Ologbondiyan questioned why Akpabio has needed nearly four votes of confidence in less than two years. He argued that such votes are usually a response to internal crises, aimed at reassuring a leader that they still have support.
“Senator Akpabio will be the first Senate President to receive almost four votes of confidence in under two years. That should worry both him and the Senate as an institution,” he said.
On Thursday, the Senate passed another confidence vote in Akpabio, following a motion by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central) and Deputy Minority Leader Olarere Oyewumi (Osun West). This came just two days after suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan addressed the Inter-Parliamentary Union in New York, where she repeated her sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio.
Ologbondiyan suggested that the repeated confidence votes indicate deeper issues.
“If there were true peace in the Senate, such votes wouldn’t be necessary. Instead, this looks like a peace of the graveyard,” he said.
Tax Reform Bills: A Welcome Development
Ologbondiyan also reacted to the Senate’s passage of the Tax Reform bills for a second reading, calling it a step in the right direction. He stressed that public scrutiny is necessary to ensure fairness.
“If well processed, these bills could improve governance. But they must go through proper public hearings where Nigerians can review them to make sure they don’t favor any particular group,” he said.
Tensions Persist in the Senate
The frequent votes of confidence in Akpabio have sparked debates about stability within the Senate. Critics argue that they reveal internal conflicts, while supporters claim they show strong backing for Akpabio’s leadership.
With public hearings on the Tax Reform bills approaching, all eyes will be on how the Senate handles both legislative matters and internal tensions in the coming months.
