Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central in the upper legislative chambers of the National Assembly has levelled grave allegation of sexual harassment against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
The Senator who made the allegation in an interview with Arise Television alleged that the Senate President not only harboured unwelcome advances towards her, but also resorted to systematic abuse of power by blocking her motions on the Senate floor.
She said in that television interview that her ordeal began more than a year ago at Akpabio’s residence in Ikot-Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State during an innocuous visit, when Akpabio led her and her husband to a secluded sitting room where he allegedly insinuated that her new status as a Senator should translate into special privileges: “Now that you are a Senator, you are going to create time for us to spend quality time here and you will enjoy it.”
According to her, this overt proposition was only a prelude to further harassments that followed in the Senate itself. For instance, she said, on floor of the National Assembly, Natasha alleged, that whenever she sought to move a motion concerning Ajaokuta Steel project—a matter of considerable national importance – she was met with furtheor impropriety.
Unsurprisingly however, the allegation of sexual harassment against Senate President Akpabio has continued to elicit strong reactions. Akpabio’s media consultant, Kenny Okulogbo has reportedly denied the allegation. Okulogbo dismissed the claims as “tissues of lies,” alleging that the embattled Senator was resorting to blackmail following her removal as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content.
According to Okulogbo, Senator Natasha’s anger is not rooted in any factual occurrence, but on a politically motivated vendetta aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the Senate President.
The allegation against Akpabio, combined with Natasha’s subsequent removal from a key committee position, suggest that internal politics may be dictating the tenor of legislative debate, with repercussions that extend to the very heart of Nigeria’s democratic process.
This is not the first time Senator Akpabio is being accused of sexual harassment. The then Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ms Joi Nunieh once accused him of sexual harassment when he was the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
