A recent rowdy session on the floor of the Nigerian Senate between a female lawmaker, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP) and Senate President, Godswill Akpabio (APC), did not seem particularly unusual.

Things have however taken an irregular turn with a revelation by the female senator representing Kogi Central, bordering on allegations of sexual harassment against her Akwa Ibom North West counterpart.

In a television interview on Arise television, Akpoti-uduaghan claimed her issue with Akpabio started on the 8th of December, 2023, when her husband and herself attended a pre-birthday invitation extended by the Senate President at his residence in Uyo.
“We had earlier gone to his house at Ikot-Ekpene, and he held my hand and said he wanted to show me around his house. I noticed he hastened his pace while still holding my hand, and he got to this particular sitting room.

“He asked ‘do you like my house?’ and I replied, ‘of course yes,’ and he said, ‘now that you are a Senator, you are going to create time for us to spend quality time here and you will enjoy it’.
“Later, on the floor of the Senate, I attempted to raise a motion regarding corrupt practices at the Ajaokuta Steel Company. I listed this motion five times, and it was only on the sixth occasion that it appeared on the order paper. When I approached the Senate President to enquire as to why my motion had been repeatedly stepped down, he told me, ‘Natasha, I am the Chief Presiding Officer of the Senate. You can enjoy a whole lot if you take care of me and make me happy.’ “At that point, I told him that I would pretend I didn’t hear that. My case is a case of a student being punished by a lecturer for refusing to sleep with him.”

National President/CVP, International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Eliana Martins in reaction to the shocking development, told Saturday Vanguard that any allegation of sexual harassment is a serious matter which the female Senator would have to prove. “She is a lawyer, she understands that it’s a serious allegation and I am sure she is prepared for it. I am glad that we understand freedom of expression and definitely, she knows what she is talking about and can handle the matter”.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s submission alluded to her husband speaking to the Senate President in London about a bill she was pushing. Regarding this, Martins excused the action, saying it is merely a means of propagating the female senator’s passion.
“It is a form of lobbying that is not exactly against the law. From the outburst on the floor of the Senate it was clear she had been bottling up a lot and she is now expressing the reason. Perhaps there are better ways of communicating but we are all wired differently. If this is the time for her to speak up, this is the time”.
According to Martins, it is not easy to operate in the male dominated world and lessons must be learnt from the imbroglio.
“Definitely, women interested in politics should learn this. We must begin to push the narrative of inclusion and parity and speak up against all forms of sexual discrimination and keep ensuring that the system allows women to stand tall.
The perception in the Senate now that women are weak and should not be allowed to speak should be cleared by the Senate and they should make it clearer that they are not against any gender.
” The matter that caused the fight in the first place was in the course of Senate matters. Better channels of communication should be employed to make sure issues are addressed but more importantly, the Senate should clear the air on the allegations of sexual harassment while ensuring the negativity is not allowed. A full investigation should be carried out and since the issues are in court, we will hear full details soon. We are not allowed to delve into those issues”. She added that FIDA stands against any form of violence against women.
“It will be nice also to have the first lady delve into this issue having been a female senator herself “, she said.

Convener, Women Alctive in Politics, WAiP, a coalition of women political groups, Efe Anaughe told Vanguard that while proof is not necessarily required to make an allegation, having evidence can strengthen the claim and facilitate a thorough investigation. She said the lack of immediate proof does not diminish the importance of addressing the issue.

“Regarding Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s statement about her husband speaking to the Senate President about her bill, it is not uncommon for family members or representatives to advocate on behalf of lawmakers. However, the appropriateness and legality of this action depend on the specific circumstances and the rules governing legislative interactions.
“It is essential to recognize that victims of harassment or discrimination often face significant barriers to reporting, including fear of retaliation, social stigma, and institutional inertia. There is no statute of limitations on reporting harassment or discrimination, and the timing of a complaint does not necessarily affect its validity”.

Anaughe worries that the incident may have a chilling effect on women in politics or those planning to enter politics, as it highlights the challenges and biases they may face while also underscoring the importance of speaking out against harassment and discrimination.

“The matter that sparked the controversy between Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Akpabio involved a comment made by the Senate President, which was perceived as sexist and dismissive. While the incident has raised important questions about gender bias and harassment in politics, it is crucial to address the underlying issues and work towards creating a more inclusive and respectful environment in the Senate”, said the human rights lawyer.