On Friday, February 28, a Nigerian Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio had sexually harassed her and on March 5, she made her allegations official by submitting a pemission to the Senate.
Instead of a proper investigation, what followed this was backlash from fellow senators and a 6-month suspension.
Despite her suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan did not back down or retract her allegations and many Nigerians have rallied behind her since then, demanding that her suspension be lifted and her allegations properly investigated.
If the Senate heard any of these demands made by Nigerians online and offline, they have paid them no mind because on Tuesday, March 11, the Senate passed a vote of confidence on Godswill Akpabio. Speaking at the Senate that same day, Akpabio said that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s actions could harm women’s chances in politics, appealing also, that her actions should not be used to judge other women, especially his daughters.
“I have four daughters, and I want to plead with politicians to still give them and other women a chance. The sins of one should not be used to punish others,” he said.
Akpabio’s comments have sparked reactions and conversations among Nigerians. We asked eight Nigerian women to tell us how they feel about this and they did, in as many words as they could find.
Simi
“Akpabio’s comment shows the unfair way women in politics are treated. If one woman makes a mistake, it shouldn’t mean all women lose opportunities. When men in power mess up, no one says men should be banned from leadership, so why should it be different for women?
Bringing up his daughters feels like a distraction. If he truly wants women to have a fair chance, the focus should be on creating a system where people are judged by their actions, not their gender. Women deserve opportunities on their own merit, not based on what one person did.”
Esther
“This is a clearly spelt- out hatred for women who dare to speak up when they’re being assaulted. This also emboldens abusers to keep it going. It’s such a shame that everyone has been silenced from speaking up when such happens
I feel terrified that if something like this happens again, women will keep being blamed for it. It makes me feel unsafe that the system that is supposed to protect the rights of women are the ones against her.”
Dolapo
What Akpabio said is wrong on so many levels. He is essentially saying the Senate is not a place for a woman, especially when she voices her concerns. It is similar to what Senator Ireti kingibe said in that interview, where she implied Senator Natasha Akpoti should have been silent instead of speaking out because the men would no longer want her to be a part of the club. It also feels like he is saying women have to be compliant or be total suck-ups before they can get into that position
Mmesoma
“First of all, I think it’s really silly. It reflects a broader issue in Nigeria, where many people still believe that women don’t inherently deserve political positions and should be ‘grateful’ and ‘act accordingly’ when they are ‘allowed’ to hold them.
Meanwhile, male politicians have engaged in all sorts of ridiculous behaviour (exchanging blows, faking fainting, etc), yet no one questions whether men should be in power because of it.
In Nigeria, a Senate President can remain in office despite serious allegations, punish his alleged victim, and he can still make threats with no real consequences. That’s the real problem.”
Mikun
The Senate has the power to limit women’s participation in lawmaking and if the Senate president is making this sort of statement, we can quote him in the future if the numbers drop. However, it wouldn’t be because a woman spoke out against her abuser. It will be because men never truly believed that women should be involved in lawmaking, hence the reason why they want the said women to be grateful and humble even after they are rightfully elected
Aisha
“Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s statement is a troubling attempt to deflect from the real issue at hand. By suggesting that holding one individual accountable for alleged misconduct would jeopardise opportunities for all women, he not only misrepresents the situation but also reinforces a harmful narrative, one where women’s progress is conditional on their silence.
This kind of narrative is not new. It weaponises the fear of lost opportunities to discourage women from speaking out against inappropriate behaviour. The implication that a single allegation could prevent future female vice presidents is both misleading and dangerous. Women are not a singular entity, and their access to leadership should not be tied to tolerating misconduct.
His plea for politicians to still “give” women a chance, including his daughters, is particularly ironic. A true commitment to gender equity requires ensuring that political and professional spaces are safe for women, not positioning accountability as a threat to inclusion. The real pattern we should be concerned about is one where women who speak up face repercussions while powerful men evade scrutiny.
If we are serious about equity and justice, we must resist narratives that frame accountability as a risk rather than a necessity. Women should not have to choose between leadership and dignity.”
Chinecherem
“First off, suspending a senator because she made accusations was uncalled for. If the matter was already in court, then they should have left it to the court to settle.
His statement to me feels a bit too condescending to me. On one hand, he insults an entire community of women and, on the other hand, tries to lift them up by asking that they be given another chance.
I think it’s just power play, to be honest. The bigger dog will always have the bigger bite”
Mariam
“Him saying this would create a precedent against women in politics makes no sense at all; men do horrible things all the time, but we don’t see that affecting them. The President of the United States is an alleged rapist and a convict. If Trump can become the President of the most powerful country in the world despite being named in a rape case and as well as the thing that happened at the capitol, then how does what a single woman did, whether right or wrong, have the ability to affect all other women? It makes no sense at all.
Also, saying that the sins of one should not be used to punish the rest is somehow because this thing that has happened to Senator Natasha Akpoti happens to women across the country, only that a majority do not have the right to speak up, so what Natasha Akpoti is doing is good for us. In speaking up for herself, she is speaking up for all of us and we are happy for it.
Again, it is ridiculous that he’s saying all of these things because a woman decided to speak up for herself.”
