Senator Neda Imasuen, representing Edo South senatorial district, has dismissed the ongoing efforts to recall him from the Senate, describing them as a waste of time and a ploy sponsored by external forces.
Addressing journalists in Benin City, he asserted that those pushing for his removal were being financially motivated and that some of them had even been taken to Kogi State for briefing on how to execute the agenda.
Imasuen linked the recall attempt to his role as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, which recently handled the controversy involving Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
He maintained that his duty was strictly to address the conduct on the Senate floor and not matters of sexual harassment, as some have alleged.
He expressed disbelief at the involvement of individuals from Kogi State in a political matter concerning Edo, stating that such interference was unnatural and driven by monetary incentives.
According to him, those spearheading the recall effort had been paid to do so, showing the extent to which some people would go for financial gain.
“Some individuals have been taken to Kogi, where they were briefed and given money to push for my recall. They are simply working for their pay, but it is absurd for someone from Kogi to come to Edo and dictate our political affairs. This is purely a case of financial desperation,” Imasuen stated.
He further defended his tenure as chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee, noting that he had always acted fairly and within the Senate’s standing rules.
“The petition brought before his committee initially focused solely on parliamentary conduct, and the sexual harassment allegations emerged only later. He emphasized that Senate procedures had to be followed and that the committee, which consists of nearly 30 members, functioned collectively, rather than at his sole discretion.
Imasuen also dismissed claims of bias against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, stating that her petition was invalid because it violated Senate protocol. “A petition cannot be signed by the petitioner herself if she is a senator. That is against the standing rule,” he clarified, reaffirming his commitment to fairness and due process.
Reiterating his stance, Imasuen insisted that the recall efforts were baseless and politically motivated, urging those behind them to desist from their fruitless pursuit.
He maintained that his work in the Senate had always been guided by principle and fairness, regardless of the individuals involved in any case before his committee.
