The North-Central All Progressives Congress Forum has condemned the protest embarked on by supporters of the Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The Forum equally said the protest was a plot to cause a breakdown of law and order in the Federal Capital Territory.
Recall that some Akpoti-Uduaghan’s protesters stormed the National Assembly on Wednesday and called on the Senate President to step down pending investigations into the allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him.
The protesters who arrived at the National Assembly gate as early as 8:00 am on Wednesday carried banners with inscriptions such as ‘Akpabio Must Go’ and ‘Protect Women’s Rights’.
They demanded accountability and urged the Senate to investigate Akpabio over the accusations.
Reacting to the development, a statement issued by its Chairman, Saleh Zazzaga, called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services and other security agencies to forestall any plan to cause chaos in the FCT.
The APC Forum, therefore, issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the protesters to vacate the streets of the FCT.
“We are putting the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, DSS, and other security agencies on the alert over the plot to cause anarchy and unrest in the FCT by protesters who have been mobilized to cause trouble in the FCT.
“We are by this statement giving the protesters and their sponsors 24 hours to vacate the streets of the FCT. As stakeholders of the North-Central, which includes the FCT, we can’t stand by and watch as hoodlums and anarchists cause a breakdown of law and order in the capital city, which has been known for peace and tranquility since the coming of the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“Failing to vacate the streets of the FCT in 24 hours, we will mobilise our people to counter them,” parts of the statement read.
Insisting that the sexual harassment allegations were part of a plot to disrepute Akpabio, the Forum said there is no evidence that the Senate President committed the alleged offense.
Noting that the records show that Akpoti-Uduaghan was not the only senator to have had her seat reallocated in the chamber, the APC Forum wondered why she did not raise the sexual harassment allegation against Akpabio until she was to be investigated by the Committee on Ethics and Privileges for breaching the rules of the Senate.
NAN
