Former lawmaker for Cross-River South Senatorial District, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, has rejected Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claim of sexual harassment, asserting that women who become senators are beyond such experiences. Speaking on Arise TV on Tuesday, Ita-Giwa argued that female lawmakers should not portray themselves as weak by making such allegations.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of frustrating her motions on Ajaokuta Steel Company because she refused his sexual advances. However, Ita-Giwa responded by saying, “By the time you contest elections and get to the 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.”
Ita-Giwa further stated, “It shows weakness; you don’t allow it. Sexual harassment cannot happen in the Senate,” and emphasized that female senators should view themselves as equals to their male counterparts. She added, “When you get to the Senate, you’re there as a person, not as a woman.”
When asked if female lawmakers should remain silent about harassment, Ita-Giwa maintained that making such allegations at that level reflects weakness in politics, but clarified that she wasn’t defending anyone in particular. She also noted that winning a senatorial seat is no small achievement.
The conflict between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio began last week when Akpoti-Uduaghan discovered her Senate seat had been changed, leading to a disruption during plenary. She claimed the issue began in December 2023 when she and her husband visited Akpabio’s home for his birthday, alleging that Akpabio made inappropriate advances, prompting her husband to warn her about being alone with him.
While Akpabio has not yet responded to the allegations, his wife, Ekaette, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Akpoti-Uduaghan.
