Nigerian Senator Suspended for Accusing Senate President of Sexual Harrassment
In early March, the Nigerian Senate suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for 6 months. Her violation? Making an accusation of sexual harassment.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has accused Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, of making unwanted sexual advances towards her in 2023. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan disclosed this in a TV interview in February of this year. Shortly after, the Senate Ethics Committee made the decision to suspend the Senator on the grounds that she violated procedure. She will not be allowed to serve within her office, effectively suspending her pay and security detail for the next 6 months. To suspend a woman for making an accusation is to tell every woman that if she comes forward after being attacked, she will be punished.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan states that the harassment she faced was not a single isolated event, rather it was continuous unwanted sexual comments and advances. She shared with BBC that the Senate operates like a “cult” and the Senate President would often make sexist remarks and other senators would laugh. Akpabio, the Senate President, denies the accusations and says he has not sexually harassed anyone. He is, at the time of this statement, still serving as President.
It is worth noting that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is 1 of the only 4 women who serve in the Nigerian parliament, which holds 109 members. Nigeria has some of the lowest numbers of women in parliament in all of Africa. They have gone from 4 out of 109 members being women, to just 3 active female senators. Retaliation against women for coming forward with any type of abuse is certainly not new. When a woman shares her story, she is reclaiming her power and autonomy and that by nature is resisting the patriarchy. Retaliation against any outcry is a tool to silence victims and protect abusers. It sends a sinister message to all women and girls who consider sharing their story: if you come forward, you will pay.
Movements to show solidarity between survivors have grown over the years. The #MeToo movement shattered the internet, with thousands of women and girls sharing how they, too, have faced some sort of sexual harassment or abuse. One of the most powerful outcomes of this movement is the collective solidarity that showed survivors who have not come forward that they are not alone. Often, apologists of abusers like to paint a picture as if the abuse was an isolated event against that one person - “He isn’t like that with everyone! Think about his future! It was just a mistake!” But #MeToo showed that this is not isolated. Survivors are everywhere which means abusers are, too. We as a society have to reevaluate how we respond to survivors who come forward. It is essential to create a safe space to come forward, especially against a powerful or public figure. The fear of punishment should always be on the abuser, not the survivor.
It is imperative that the Nigerian Parliament reassess its decision to suspend Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan. While she is suspended without pay and work, Akpabio is able to run as if it’s business as usual. Efforts like these reinforce rape culture. It tells men that they can do whatever they want and not only can they get away with it, they can punish their victims for daring to go against them. This constant victimization cannot go on. Women in Nigeria are essential to politics and their presence is needed, yet it will not happen if the government shows that they will punish anyone who challenges systemic rape culture. We stand with Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and all women in Nigeria who are fighting against rape culture.
Sources:
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/03/26/nigeria-metoo-sexual-harassment-senate-akpabio-akpoti-uduaghan/
