Akpabio said ‘my waist’ would make ‘good movements’, Natasha Akpoti alleges

• Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central in the upper legislative chamber, has claimed that Senate President Godswill Akpabio made inappropriate and suggestive remarks towards her, including a comment about her “waist” making “good movements.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations come in the wake of her suspension from the Senate on March 6 for “gross misconduct and unruly behavior” related to a dispute over her seating arrangement with the Senate President.

Natasha’s suspension came a day after she submitted a sexual harassment petition against Akpabio on the floor of the senate.

In an interview with the BBC, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan restated that the “gross misconduct” premise for her suspension was a smokescreen to silence her.

She said Akpabio frequently made sexual advances towards her in and out of the senate chamber — and sometimes before other senators.

She alleged that Akpabio would “squeeze my hands in a very suggestive way”.

“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?” she said.

“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’.

“He makes such sexist statements. And then they (other senators) all laughed.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan broke down in tears when the interviewer asked what impact her victim shaming and intimidation claims have had on her.

“People don’t understand what it means to carry this. Maybe we don’t talk about it enough in Nigeria or Africa,” the senator said in between sobs.

“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?”

She, however, added that the positive for her is that some female parliamentarians from across Africa have been ringing her up to encourage her and to say they face similar sexually charged, male dominated environments in their respective parliaments.

SENATE REACTION

Responding to the interview, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, the senate’s deputy chief whip, told the BBC that Akpabio never made passes at Akpoti-Uduaghan.

He also said the senate president never made any inappropriate comments towards the female lawmaker whether in his country home or the senate chamber.

Nwaebonyi also rejected Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claim that the senate is trying to silence her.

“Senator Natasha’s legislative activities show this claim is not true,” he said.

On March 5, Akpabio had denied sexually harassing Akpoti-Uduaghan.

“At no time did I ever attempt any sexual harassment on the said distinguished senator Akpoti-Uduaghan or any other woman for that matter,” Akpabio said in the senate chamber.

“I and my siblings were raised very well by my late single mother, who died in 2000, through very difficult times. And I therefore have the highest regard for women.”