By DADA AYOKHAI
The sex scandal involving the Senate President, Sen. Godswill Akpabio and the Senator representing Kogi Central, Sen. Nathasia Uduaghan Akpoti, may ultimately tarnish the emerging political career of Sen. Neda Imaseun.
Sen. Neda Imaseun, a member of the Labour Party, represents the Edo South senatorial district in the Senate.
As the chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, he authored the report that the Senate relied upon to suspend Sen. Akpoti.
This action was seen as a way to divert public attention from the weightier allegation of sexual harassment she made against Sen. Godswill Akpabio.
Sen. Imaseun’s committee recommended that Sen. Akpoti be suspended for six legislative calendar months and also set tough conditions for her potential recall.
The disagreement between Sen. Akpabio and Sen. Akpoti initially arose over a seating arrangement but escalated into a scandal when the Kogi Central senator accused the Senate President of making indecent sexual advances.
In an expedited process, the Senate suspended Sen. Akpoti for misconduct, while her serious allegation of sexual harassment against Sen. Akpabio is yet to see the light of day
This swift action by the Senate sparked a national outcry, with many observers criticizing the senators for what they viewed as a coordinated effort to silence Sen. Akpoti.
Ironically, the fallout from the Akpabio/Akpoti scandal extended beyond the Kogi and Akwa Ibom states, where the key figures originated.
Before long, Sen. Neda Imaseun found himself at the centre of controversy.
Whether intentionally or not, the case reshaped the political landscape around him.
Suddenly thrust into national discussions, Sen. Imaseun is now struggling to salvage his reputation.
Various women’s groups in Edo State organized rallies and protests to express support for Senator Natasha and their discontent with Sen. Imaseun’s role in the situation, turning him into both a public figure and a victim of this high-stakes political drama.
In response, the Edo APC sponsored similar rallies to show support for the embattled Senate President.
Sources indicate that the Edo State governor was privy to the pro-Akpabio rallies and actively funded them to express his gratitude to the Senate President.
Senator Akpabio was said to have played a key role in facilitating the emergence of Sen. Monday Okpevbolo as the Edo APC guber candidate and is also expected to wield his influence on the outcome of the election petition before the Tribunal.
Somehow, Sen. Neda Imaseun naively found himself caught in a difficult situation.
First, questions have been raised about the integrity of his committee report, with many suggesting it was deliberately “compromised” to protect the struggling Senate President.
Additionally, his constituents in Edo South are baffled by the enthusiasm and speed with which he presented his committee report for consideration by the House.
They argue that he has never shown such fervour in promoting their concerns before.
Moreover, this was the first time many of his constituents had seen him on national television.
Unfortunately, his appearance did not coincide with a noble cause; instead, he was perceived as expending energy on matters that undermine women.
As a result, some individuals have begun to scrutinize the background of the US-trained lawyer, including allegations of fraud that led to his disbarment in the United States, which subsequently forced him to return to the country.
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As things stand, the pathway to 2027 could be challenging for Sen Neda Imaseun.
If he fails to secure a return to the Senate in 2027, his involvement in the Sen. Akpabio/Nathasia Akpoti controversy will likely have played a significant role in that outcome.
