Kogiflame
According to a report by New York Times on Saturday April 5, 2025, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Nigeria accused Godswill Akpabio, the president of the Nigerian Senate, of sexual harassment.
The allegations stemmed from a December 2023 encounter when Akpabio allegedly made inappropriate advances towards her, including squeezing her hand and making lewd comments.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central in the Nigerian Senate stated that despite repeatedly rejecting his advances, she did not report them at the time.
However, after her seating was changed within the Senate in February, she publicly shared her experiences during a national television interview.
In response to her accusations, Akpabio denied the allegations, and a defamation lawsuit was filed by his wife. Shortly after speaking out, Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months without pay, with the Senate ethics committee citing her behavior during a dispute over her new seat as the reason.
The committee also dismissed her sexual harassment petition, stating that victims cannot file their own complaints.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s ordeal reflects the challenges faced by women in Nigerian politics, where female politicians are often marginalized and silenced.
Despite facing harassment during her campaigns in 2018 and 2022, including being labeled a prostitute, Akpoti-Uduaghan continued her political career. She has received little support from her female peers in the Senate.
Nigeria has one of the lowest rates of female representation in Parliament globally, with women making up less than 10% of lawmakers. Many African countries, like Rwanda and South Africa, have implemented quotas to boost female participation, while Nigeria has not.
dailystar.co.uk
