Former senator for Cross River South, Florence Ita-Giwa, has dismissed allegations of sexual harassment made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, stating that such claims reflect weakness.
Speaking on Arise TV on Tuesday, Ita-Giwa argued that female lawmakers are beyond the stage of being harassed once they attain senatorial positions, insisting that all senators are equal.
She stated, “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.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan had previously alleged that Akpabio frustrated her motions on the Ajaokuta Steel Company because she rejected his advances. However, Ita-Giwa responded by saying, “I am not saying she is lying, but making such claims at that level reflects weakness.”
When asked whether female lawmakers should remain silent about harassment from male colleagues, she maintained her stance, emphasizing that women in politics should see themselves as equals to men.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s feud with Akpabio escalated last week when she discovered that her Senate seat had been changed, leading to a disruption in plenary.
During her interview, she alleged that the issue began in December 2023, when she and her husband attended Akpabio’s birthday celebration at his residence. She claimed that the Senate President made inappropriate advances towards her, prompting her husband to caution her against being alone with him.
While Akpabio has yet to respond, his wife, Ekaette Akpabio, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Akpoti-Uduaghan over the allegations.
