The National Youth Leader of the Labour Party (LP), Kennedy Ahanotu, has called for the suspension of Senator Neda Imasuen, the LP representative for Edo South in the Senate, over his handling of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s case.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday at the LP National Secretariat in Abuja, Ahanotu criticized Senator Imasuen’s leadership as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions. He accused him of facilitating what many see as an unjust and humiliating action against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan without a thorough investigation.
Ahanotu highlighted the irregularities in the investigative process, noting that a hearing initially scheduled for March 11, 2025, was abruptly moved up to March 5, raising concerns about the urgency behind the decision to suspend Akpoti-Uduaghan. He suggested that Imasuen’s actions displayed bias and could be interpreted as misogynistic, contradicting the LP’s values of gender equality and fair hearing.
The LP Youth Leader also criticized the 10th Senate for prioritizing this case while showing little urgency in addressing pressing national issues such as electoral reforms and security. He warned that suspending Akpoti-Uduaghan effectively disenfranchises her constituents, punishing them for an alleged offense without due process.
Ahanotu issued several demands, including the immediate reversal of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, the reconstitution of a balanced investigative committee without Imasuen, and the initiation of a recall process for Imasuen by his Edo South constituents.
He also called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene, condemning the mistreatment of women in Nigerian politics, which he noted had also affected the First Lady during her time in the Senate. Additionally, he urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio to submit to an independent investigation, accusing him of using his position to suppress calls for justice in this case.
The LP youth wing reaffirmed its commitment to democratic principles, rule of law, and gender equality, calling on all Nigerians to stand against political injustice and abuse of power.
