The coalition referenced a previous sexual harassment allegation against Akpabio in 2020 by Joy Nunieh, a former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, arguing that the new claims by Senator Akpoti should not be ignored.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – A coalition of over 350 women rights groups under the umbrella of WOMANIFESTO has called for a public hearing on the ongoing crisis in the Nigerian Senate, particularly in response to allegations of sexual harassment leveled against Senate President Godswill Akpabio by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In a statement released on Monday, the group expressed deep concern over the recent tensions in the Senate, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability.
WOMANIFESTO criticized derogatory remarks reportedly made by the Senate President, especially towards female senators, and highlighted the importance of respecting all lawmakers as representatives of the people.
The coalition referenced a previous sexual harassment allegation against Akpabio in 2020 by Joy Nunieh, a former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, arguing that the new claims by Senator Akpoti should not be ignored.
While acknowledging that the matter had been referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, the group insisted that a closed-door review was insufficient and demanded a public hearing to ensure transparency.
WOMANIFESTO also raised broader concerns about gender representation in Nigerian politics, noting that women constitute only 3.67% of the Senate and 3.9% of the House of Representatives, the lowest in Africa. Additionally, they highlighted the widespread issue of sexual and gender-based violence, stating that one in three women in Nigeria has experienced violence.
The coalition issued a four-point demand to the Senate: That the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, must step down immediately to allow for an impartial investigation.
That an immediate and independent investigation into the sexual harassment allegations.
That a public hearing by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions should be made public for transparency, and lastly, that all legal matters already in court should follow due process.
“We demand justice. We demand accountability. We demand the protection of Nigerian women and girls,” the statement concluded, urging the Senate to act in the public interest.
The Senate has yet to officially respond to these demands.