ABUJA, Nigeria – Former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Ologbondiyan, has criticised the Nigerian Senate for passing a vote of confidence in Senate President Godswill Akpabio, describing the move as “worrisome.”
Ologbondiyan made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
The Senate had earlier passed a unanimous vote of confidence in Akpabio during its plenary session on Thursday.
The decision came 48 hours after suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan addressed the Inter-Parliamentary Union in New York, alleging that her suspension was linked to sexual harassment claims against Akpabio.
Ologbondiyan noted that Akpabio has had nearly four votes of confidence passed in his favour in less than two years, a trend he described as indicative of instability within the Senate.
“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 explained that votes of confidence are typically passed during crises to reassure the presiding officer of support from the chamber.
“The concept of vote of confidence, if you understudy it, shows that there is a 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,” he said.
Ologbondiyan added that the recurrent votes of confidence suggest a lack of peace in the Senate.
“If there is peace in the Senate, then it means that it could be a peace of the graveyard,” he stated.
The former PDP spokesperson also commented on the Senate’s passage of the Tax Reform bills for a second reading, describing it as a welcome development.
He noted that if properly processed, the bills could 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,” Ologbondiyan said.
He urged Nigerians to actively participate in the public hearing process to ensure the bills serve the broader interest of the nation.
