I Regret Any Embarrassment To The Senate – Oshiomhole Clarifies Position On Akpoti-Uduaghan Suspension

The lawmaker representing Edo North in the Senate, Adams Oshiomhole, has clarified his comments regarding the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Naija News reports that the lawmaker made the clarification in a statement on Tuesday.

He asserted that comments during an interview on AIT’s Politics Today programme on Monday were misrepresented, insisting that he never claimed any senator’s signature was forged.

The former Edo State governor said his position was consistent with that of the Senate spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, that no senator’s signature was forged because no lawmaker had complained to him about such.

He, however, explained that the only issue he raised was that a senator who served on the committee had claimed that attendance signatures of some lawmakers were attached to the final report.

Oshiomhole said, “The insinuation that I said signatures of Senators were forged is a complete misrepresentation of what I actually said.

“I agree absolutely with the spokesperson of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Yemi Adaramodu, that no signature of Senators was forged in Natasha Akpoti’s suspension. This is because no Senator complained to me that his or her signature was forged.

“The only comment I made is that one Senator, who is a member of the Committee, claimed’ that the signatures of attendance of some Senators were attached to the final report.”

The Edo North senator added that any suggestion that he accused anyone of forging signatures was “completely untrue” and should be disregarded.

Oshiomhole said the issue of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension had been concluded, adding that the Senate had moved on.

“Finally, I regret if my comments may have caused embarrassment to any Senator or the 10th Senate as an institution,” he stated.

His clarification came hours after the Senate dismissed claims that the suspension process was manipulated, accusing Oshiomhole of attempting to reopen a settled matter.