Inside the Secretive Operations of Nigeria's Senate: Former MP Reveals All
A Nigerian senator told the BBC that the Senate functions as a "cult" after she claimed she was sexually harassed by one of the nation's leading lawmakers.
After filing a petition alleging that Senate President Godswill Akpabio had harassed her—a claim he denies—Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months two weeks ago.
The cult comparison was also denied by his administration, which is the most recent development in a string of incidents that have rocked Nigeria and raised concerns about gender equality in the socially conservative country.
After her security detail was taken away, Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed she was being punished for criticizing the system and was worried for her and her two-year-old's safety.
After filing a petition alleging that Senate President Godswill Akpabio had harassed her—a claim he denies—Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months two weeks ago.
The cult comparison was also denied by his administration, which is the most recent development in a string of incidents that have rocked Nigeria and raised concerns about gender equality in the socially conservative country.
After her security detail was taken away, Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed she was being punished for criticizing the system and was worried for her and her two-year-old's safety.
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"The Nigerian Senate functions similarly to a cult. The Senate president governs the body more like a tyrant than a democratic leader. In the first television interview since her suspension, the 45-year-old stated, "There is no freedom of speech, there is no freedom of expression, and anyone who dares to go against him gets cut to size."
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is not being silenced, according to Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate Onyekachi Nwebonyi, who told the BBC that "her own legislative activities disprove this claim."
The sexual harassment allegedly began in 2023 when Akpoti-Uduaghan, a representative of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), went to Akpabio's country residence with her husband.
"I will make an opportunity for us to come here and have a good moment," she remarked, after the Akpabio "squeezed her hand suggestively."
"At no time during the period in question did the Senate president make any unwanted sexual advances to Senator Akpoti at his country house," said Nwebonyi, who claims to have been there during the visit as well.
However, Akpoti-Uduaghan said that the harassment persisted for several months and that this was only one instance of many.
She said that when on the Senate's grounds with other senators, Akpabio stated something along the lines of, "Natasha, your husband is really enjoying, it looks like you'll be able to make good movements with your waist."
"At no time during the period in question did the Senate president make any unwanted sexual advances to Senator Akpoti at his country house," said Nwebonyi, who claims to have been there during the visit as well.
However, Akpoti-Uduaghan said that the harassment persisted for several months and that this was only one instance of many.
She said that when on the Senate's grounds with other senators, Akpabio stated something along the lines of, "Natasha, your husband is really enjoying, it looks like you'll be able to make good movements with your waist."
"The Senate president said this," Akpoti-Uduaghan provided the BBC with.
"They [senators] all chuckle when he makes extremely sexist remarks. She should get used to the fact that we are all guys in the Senate, he says.
"Completely false" is how Nwebonyi described these accusations.
The proportion of female lawmakers in Nigeria is among the lowest in Africa.
Akpoti-Uduaghan is the first female senator in her state and one of just four female senators in a 109-member parliament.
"Procedural errors" led to the dismissal of her petition against Akpabio.
The ethics committee then suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months without pay on March 6th, citing his "unruly and disruptive" behavior during a Senate discussion.
"They [senators] all chuckle when he makes extremely sexist remarks. She should get used to the fact that we are all guys in the Senate, he says.
"Completely false" is how Nwebonyi described these accusations.
The proportion of female lawmakers in Nigeria is among the lowest in Africa.
Akpoti-Uduaghan is the first female senator in her state and one of just four female senators in a 109-member parliament.
"Procedural errors" led to the dismissal of her petition against Akpabio.
The ethics committee then suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months without pay on March 6th, citing his "unruly and disruptive" behavior during a Senate discussion.
Because of the ban, Akpoti-Uduaghan told the BBC, she was no longer able to access security.
"In the Nigerian space, we have had people over the past decades who have been killed for having strong views against the government," she stated.
I have a two-year-old, so will I be killed if I take him on a walk? Will someone attack me?
The nation's civil society organizations have voiced their disapproval of Akpoti-Uduaghan's treatment and demanded an open inquiry into her claims.
"All we can say is that Nigerian women who are struggling for their freedom are having a terrible day today. Women's rights campaigner Hadiza Ado told the BBC that only four of the 109 senators are female, and one of them is currently suspended.
Although Akpoti-Uduaghan has received support from rights organizations and certain social media users, she also has her share of critics.
Two groups of demonstrators, one supporting the senate president and the other supporting his colleague, gathered near parliament in the capital, Abuja, after she was suspended. They chanted, "Akpabio must go."
Since leveling the accusations, Akpoti-Uduaghan has also faced a barrage of misogynistic comments on social media, she told the BBC.
The controversy is the most recent development in a turbulent political career.
When Akpoti-Uduaghan first ran for governor of Kogi state in 2019, she claimed that her mixed-race heritage was a reason why her candidacy was contested.
Two groups of demonstrators, one supporting the senate president and the other supporting his colleague, gathered near parliament in the capital, Abuja, after she was suspended. They chanted, "Akpabio must go."
Since leveling the accusations, Akpoti-Uduaghan has also faced a barrage of misogynistic comments on social media, she told the BBC.
The controversy is the most recent development in a turbulent political career.
When Akpoti-Uduaghan first ran for governor of Kogi state in 2019, she claimed that her mixed-race heritage was a reason why her candidacy was contested.
Although she eventually made it onto the ballot, she endured verbal and physical abuse while running for office.
She unsuccessfully sought for the Senate in 2023. Violence plagued the poll, and the election result was revoked after Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a lawsuit.
She told the BBC, "I thought the worst was over with the elections."
However, I suppose it's never truly over for a woman, am I correct? It simply consists of many chapters and sections.
In an effort to have her suspension revoked, Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a lawsuit and intends to resubmit her sexual harassment appeal to the Senate.
She unsuccessfully sought for the Senate in 2023. Violence plagued the poll, and the election result was revoked after Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a lawsuit.
She told the BBC, "I thought the worst was over with the elections."
However, I suppose it's never truly over for a woman, am I correct? It simply consists of many chapters and sections.
In an effort to have her suspension revoked, Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a lawsuit and intends to resubmit her sexual harassment appeal to the Senate.
Although she was attacked verbally and physically during her campaign, she eventually made it onto the ballot.
She was unsuccessful in her 2023 Senate campaign. Following Akpoti-Uduaghan's legal action, the election result was reversed despite the violent polling.
She told the BBC, "With the elections, I thought the worst was over."
However, it's never truly over for a woman, isn't it? It just has distinct chapters and sections.
In addition to pursuing legal action to get her suspension revoked, Akpoti-Uduaghan intends to resubmit her sexual harassment appeal to the Senate.
She was unsuccessful in her 2023 Senate campaign. Following Akpoti-Uduaghan's legal action, the election result was reversed despite the violent polling.
She told the BBC, "With the elections, I thought the worst was over."
However, it's never truly over for a woman, isn't it? It just has distinct chapters and sections.
In addition to pursuing legal action to get her suspension revoked, Akpoti-Uduaghan intends to resubmit her sexual harassment appeal to the Senate.
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