Former Cross River South Senator, Florence Ita-Giwa, has ignited a wave of controversy by dismissing Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, claiming that such misconduct “cannot happen in the Senate.”
Ita-Giwa, a seasoned politician and former presidential adviser, made the statement during an interview on Arise TV on Tuesday while weighing in on the growing scandal that has engulfed the Senate.
Her remarks have sparked intense debate, with critics accusing her of downplaying the reality of sexual harassment in politics and discouraging women from speaking out.
The controversy erupted after Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of frustrating her efforts to push motions on the Ajaokuta Steel Company, claiming that his actions were in retaliation for her rejecting his alleged sexual advances.
But Ita-Giwa dismissed the allegations outright, arguing that women at the senatorial level should not claim to be victims of sexual harassment.
“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,” she stated.
Her comments were met with backlash, with many viewing them as an attempt to silence conversations about power dynamics and harassment in Nigerian politics.
She went further to suggest that making such allegations at the senatorial level reflects weakness.
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“At that stage in politics, if you come out and say someone is sexually harassing you, it is a weakness,” she declared.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations first surfaced last week after a dramatic confrontation in the Senate chamber when she discovered that her seat had been moved without prior notice. The incident highlighted tensions between her and the Senate leadership.
In a separate interview with Arise TV, she provided further details about an alleged inappropriate encounter with Akpabio in December 2023.
According to her, she and her husband attended Akpabio’s birthday celebration at his residence, where she claimed the Senate President made unwelcome advances toward her during a house tour.
“My husband later warned me never to be alone with him,” she said, suggesting that the encounter had left her feeling uneasy.
While Akpabio has yet to respond publicly to the allegations, his wife, Ekaette Akpabio, has taken legal action, filing a defamation lawsuit against Akpoti-Uduaghan. The lawsuit has further escalated tensions, with political analysts suggesting that this could deepen existing divisions within the Senate.
Women’s rights advocates and opposition figures have condemned Ita-Giwa’s comments, arguing that they reinforce a culture of silence around gender-based harassment.
Prominent gender activist, Dr. Aisha Hassan, criticized the former senator’s remarks.
“Sexual harassment is not about age or position; it’s about power and abuse of authority. Dismissing allegations outright discourages women from speaking out against inappropriate behavior,” she said.
Similarly, political analyst Deji Adebayo pointed out that Ita-Giwa’s statements reflect a broader issue within Nigeria’s political landscape.
“The idea that a woman in the Senate cannot experience harassment because she is ‘past that stage’ is flawed. Power dynamics exist at every level, and dismissing these concerns is damaging,” Adebayo remarked.
Social media has been abuzz with reactions to the controversy, with many calling for an independent investigation into Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims. Others have demanded that Ita-Giwa clarify or retract her statements.