Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba was suspended from the Senate after publishing allegations on social media in 2023, claiming that a senior Senate official had harassed her after she rejected his sexual advances.
She also accused some colleagues of earning per diems through corrupt deals involving sexual favors and legislative influence.
The Senate Powers and Privileges Committee launched an inquiry, but Orwoba refused to appear and substantiate her claims, leading to her suspension for breaching the Parliamentary Code of Conduct.
Yesterday, following the end of her suspension, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi ruled that Orwoba would only be readmitted after delivering an apology in the exact wording prepared by the Senate.
However, Orwoba insisted on reading her own version, which Kingi rejected, emphasizing that the apology must be read verbatim, without any modifications.
Orwoba protested, arguing that the prescribed apology was self-incriminating and could jeopardize her ongoing court case.
She maintained that she had already faced the consequences of her suspension and questioned the Senate’s insistence on a specific apology.
“I have no problem apologizing, but the prescribed statement undermines my right to a fair process in the court proceedings,” Orwoba stated.
“I have suffered the consequences of reporting this issue, and I continue to do so. I do not understand in whose interest it is to have a self-incriminating apology,” she added.
Despite pleas to reconsider, Speaker Kingi stood firm, giving her an ultimatum: read the apology as written or leave the chamber.
Orwoba chose the latter, standing by her position as she stormed out of the Senate, declaring, “I will not trade my dignity for a salary. I will not read an incriminating statement. I stand by my words.”
