Former presidential spokesman Laolu Akande has expressed concern regarding what he describes as attempts to suppress the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Akpoti-Uduaghan recently accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, a claim that Akpabio has vehemently denied.

Speaking on Thursday at Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Akande urged the Senate leadership to end what he termed a coordinated effort against the lawmaker.

“They need to cease all these images, meetings, and collusion against this woman. That has to stop. The leadership of the Senate must demonstrate that there will be a dispassionate consideration of her allegations,” he stated.

He underlined the importance of due process in addressing the issue, rather than what seems to be a collective effort to discredit her.

“Once that is sorted, if you think that there is a need to punish her for violating the rules, it is the better way to handle it. This idea of all of the men coming out and brandishing the rules is not looking pretty at all,” he stated.

Akande warned that the Senate’s handling of the matter could send the wrong message, suggesting an attempt to silence Akpoti-Uduaghan.

“This woman has said to the whole world that she has been sexually harassed. We have to be careful, the Nigerian Senate has to be careful not to create an impression that we are trying to silence her,” he said.

He further criticised the public response from male lawmakers, arguing that their action is a poor reflection on the Senate.

“What we have been seeing so far is a lot of men holding meetings, speaking out, and coming to the media to run this woman down. It is a poor reflection on the Nigerian Senate,” Akande added.