National
What Akpabio Said About My Waist – Natasha
By Benjamin Abioye
In a new development to the sexual harassment allegations, Akpoti-Uduaghan has accused Akpabio of making lewd remarks about her waist and other suggestive comments.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of making inappropriate and suggestive remarks toward her.
She claims these incidents happened both inside and outside the Senate chamber, sometimes in the presence of other lawmakers.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended from the Senate on March 6 for what was described as “gross misconduct and unruly behavior,” insists that the real reason for her suspension was to silence her. She had submitted a sexual harassment petition against Akpabio just a day before she was suspended.
Speaking in an interview, she alleged that Akpabio would often “squeeze my hands in a very suggestive way.” She recounted an incident where she had forgotten to wear her wedding ring, and Akpabio remarked, “Oh Natasha, you are not wearing your ring… is this an invitation to treat?”
She also claimed that on another occasion, Akpabio commented on her body, saying, “Your husband is really enjoying. It looks like you’d be able to make good movements with your waist,” Natasha said of the comment she attributed to Akpabio. She said other senators present at the time laughed at the remark.
During the interview, Akpoti-Uduaghan became emotional when asked about the impact of her allegations. “People don’t understand what it means to carry this. Maybe we don’t talk about it enough in Nigeria or Africa,” she said, breaking into tears. “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 experiences of working in male-dominated political environments.
Reacting to her claims, Senate Deputy Chief Whip Onyekachi Nwaebonyi dismissed the allegations, saying Akpabio never made advances or inappropriate comments toward Akpoti-Uduaghan. He also denied that the Senate was trying to silence her. “Senator Natasha’s legislative activities show this claim is not true,” he stated.
Earlier on March 5, Akpabio himself denied the allegations, saying, “At no time did I ever attempt any sexual harassment on the said distinguished senator Akpoti-Uduaghan or any other woman for that matter.” He added that he was raised by a single mother and had “the highest regard for women.”
The controversy has sparked debates about sexism in Nigerian politics, with many closely watching how the situation unfolds.
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