Natasha Further Accuses Akpabio

Suspended senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central), has made shocking allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, claiming he made suggestive comment about her waist movements and frequently squeezed her hands in a suggestive manner.

“We women, we know what it means when a man squeezes our hands in a suggestive way,” she added.

In an interview with the BBC, Akpoti-Uduaghan recounted several instances of Akpabio’s alleged sexist behavior. “There was a time I forgot to wear my ring because I rushed to work. And there were about five senators there. And Akpabio said ‘oh Natasha, you are not wearing your ring… is this an invitation to treat?”

“There was another time he made a statement like ‘Natasha, your husband is really enjoying. It looks like you’d be able to make good movements with your waist.'” Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasized that Akpabio “makes such sexist statements.”

When asked how other senators reacted to these comments, Akpoti-Uduaghan said they simply laughed. “People don’t understand what it means to carry this. Maybe we don’t talk about it enough in Nigeria or Africa. I just want a place where I would just work. I thought the worst was over, but I guess for a woman, it’s never really over, right?”

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations come after she was suspended by the Senate on March 6 for “gross misconduct and unruly behaviour” following an altercation with Akpabio over seating arrangements. The suspension occurred just a day after she submitted a sexual harassment petition against Akpabio, which the Senate claims had no connection to her suspension.