Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has made a new revelation in her sexual harassment ordeals in the hands of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, accusing him of making repeated salacious and suggestive comments toward her, both inside and outside the Senate chamber.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the Senate on March 6 for what was officially described as “gross misconduct and unruly behavior” following a dispute over seating arrangements with Akpabio. However, her suspension came just a day after she submitted a sexual harassment petition against the Senate President on the Senate floor.
In an interview with the BBC, Akpoti-Uduaghan dismissed the misconduct allegations as a ploy to silence her. She alleged that Akpabio had made inappropriate advances toward her, sometimes in the presence of other senators.
“He would squeeze my hands in a very suggestive way,” she said.
Recalling a specific incident, she stated, “There was a time I forgot to wear my ring because I rushed to work. And there were about five senators there. And Akpabio said, ‘Oh Natasha, you are not wearing your ring… is this an invitation to treat?’”
She further accused Akpabio of making sexually charged remarks about her marriage.
“There was another time he made a statement like, ‘Natasha, your husband is really enjoying. It looks like you’d be able to make good movements with your waist.’”
“He makes such sexist statements. And then they (other senators) all laughed,” she added.
During the interview, Akpoti-Uduaghan became emotional when asked about the impact of her allegations and the backlash she has faced.
“People don’t understand what it means to carry this. Maybe we don’t talk about it enough in Nigeria or Africa,” she said, with her voice breaking.
“I just want a place where I would just work. I thought the worst was over, but I guess for a woman, it’s never really over, right?”
Despite the challenges, she said she has received support from female parliamentarians across Africa, who have reached out to share their own struggles in male-dominated legislative spaces.
