ABUJA, Nigeria — Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan don accuse di Nigerian Senate, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, say e be like cult. Dis allegation come after she accuse Akpabio of sexual harassment during an interview with di BBC.
Di senator wey dey represent Kogi Central, Akpoti-Uduaghan, talk say her six-month suspension wey dem give her for di chamber na victimisation and way to silence her. Dis suspension follow her protest after dem change her sitting arrangement for di Senate.
“I am being victimized. My suspension is a means of silencing me,” she tell di BBC. She narrate say di harassment happen when dem dey for di house of di Senate president, saying Akpabio squeeze her hand in a suggestive manner while her husband dey behind dem.
“It was episode after episode, moment after moment,” she add. “He said, ‘Now that you’re in di Senate, I’ll make an opportunity for us to come here and have a good moment’, you know, along dat line.”
Di Senate don deny di allegations wey Akpoti-Uduaghan don make. Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, di Deputy Chief Whip of di Senate, respond to di accusations say dem no happen. E talk say he dey present when di incident allegedly took place and dat di Senate no encourage any form of harassment.
Nwaebonyi insist say, “There was never a time Akpabio made sexual advances towards Akpoti-Uduaghan.” He add say di chambers na serious place to deal with serious national issues and no room for such behavior.
Di issue take center stage especially after Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan carry di matter go di United Nations, seeking justice for wetin she dey claim. E happen amidst growing tension for di Senate as Akpabio gain more support from his colleagues.
Di Deputy Chief Whip also question di timing of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations, suggest say e no coincidental and na after she bin dey called to di Senate Ethics Committee for misconduct.
“E dey highly suspicious say she start to dey make dis allegations after she bin dey referred to di Senate Ethics Committee,” he tok.
While di social atmosphere for di Senate dey painted as one wey no allow dissenting voices, Akpoti-Uduaghan stand her ground, insisting say she won’t back down on di issues wey dey affect women for di political space.
“Senator Natasha’s legislative activities show dis claim is not true,” Nwaebonyi conclude, giving assurance to di public dat di Senate go continue to uphold ethics and integrity.
