Ita-Giwa: Senators can’t be sexually harassed — Natasha Akpoti’s allegation shows weakness

Florence Ita-Giwa, a former senator, says the sexual harassment allegation leveled against Senate President Godswill Akpabio by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is a “sign of weakness”.

BACKGROUND

The altercation between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central, began over seat re-arrangement in the red chamber.

Akpoti-Uduaghan firmly resisted her new seat placement after the re-arrangement, claiming the move was intended to “silence her”.

On February 25, the senate referred Akpoti-Uduaghan to the committee on ethics, privileges, and public petitions for disciplinary review.

On February 28, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused the senate president of making sexual advances towards her in his office and residence in Akwa Ibom state.

‘AKPOTI HAS PASSED THE STAGE OF BEING SEXUALLY HARASSED’

Speaking on ‘The Morning Show’, an Arise TV programme, on Tuesday, Ita-Giwa said women cannot be harassed once they become senators.

The former lawmaker said attaining the position of senator is no easy feat and should empower female lawmakers to stand firm against any form of harassment.

“By the time you contest elections and get to Senate, you have passed that stage of your life of being sexually harassed,” Ita-Giwa said.

“You go there to serve, and you are all equal in that place. And again, it shows weakness; you don’t allow it. It (sexual harassment) cannot happen in the Senate.

“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 man or woman.”

“At that stage in politics, if you come out and say someone is sexually harassing you, it is a weakness.”

“On this matter, I am not with Senator Akpoti. It is the worst sign of weakness on a woman’s part to come out and accuse a man of making passes at you at that level.”

While Akpabio has yet to respond to the allegation, Ekaette, his wife, has condemned Akpoti-Uduaghan and filed a defamation lawsuit against her.

Prominent Nigerians including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Bukola Saraki, ex-senate president, have called for an investigation into the claims made by the Kogi lawmaker.