A former senator representing Cross-River South, Florence Ita-Giwa, has dismissed Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claim of sexual harassment, arguing that female lawmakers cannot be harassed once they attain the position of senator.
Speaking on Arise TV on Tuesday, Ita-Giwa stated that it is a “sign of weakness” for female senators to make such claims, adding that once a woman successfully contests and wins a senatorial election, she should see herself as equal to her male counterparts.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio hindered her motions on Ajaokuta Steel Company because she refused his alleged sexual advances. However, Ita-Giwa pushed back against this assertion, insisting, “By the time you contest elections and get to Senate, you have passed that stage of your life of being sexually harassed. You go there to serve, and you are all equal in that place.”
She further emphasized that “it shows weakness; you don’t allow it. It (sexual harassment) cannot happen in the Senate.” She clarified that she was not outrightly accusing Akpoti-Uduaghan of lying but maintained that the Senate is a space where harassment should not occur. “I am not saying the lady is lying, but when you get to the Senate, you’re there as a person. You’re not there as a woman.”
When asked whether female lawmakers should remain silent about harassment from their colleagues, Ita-Giwa reinforced her position, stating that making such claims at that level “is a weakness.” She added, “At that stage in politics, if you come out and say someone is sexually harassing you, it is a weakness.”
She continued, “I’m saying that it does not; it would not happen in the Senate, and it should not happen in the Senate, and again, I’m not here to defend anybody in politics.”
Ita-Giwa stressed that once a woman attains the position of senator, she must assume her role as an equal to her male colleagues, pointing out that winning a senatorial election is a significant achievement that should come with confidence and authority.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s conflict with Akpabio escalated last week when she discovered that her Senate seat had been changed, leading to a brief disruption during plenary. During her own Arise TV appearance, she alleged that her issues with Akpabio began in December 2023 when she and her husband attended Akpabio’s birthday celebration at his residence. She claimed that during the event, Akpabio made inappropriate advances while giving her a tour of his home, prompting her husband to caution her against being alone with him.
Akpabio has yet to respond to the allegations, but his wife, Ekaette Akpabio, has publicly denounced Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims and has filed a defamation lawsuit against her.
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