Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of making a suggestive remark about her waist movements.
In an interview with the BBC, she alleged that Akpabio also squeezed her hand in a manner she described as suggestive.
“We, as women, understand what it means when a man squeezes our hand in a suggestive way,” she stated.
Recalling an incident, Akpoti-Uduaghan said, “There was a day I rushed to work and forgot to wear my ring. About five senators were present, and Akpabio remarked, ‘Oh, Natasha, you are not wearing your ring… is this an invitation to treat?’”
“There was another time he said, ‘Natasha, your husband must be really enjoying. It looks like you can make good movements with your waist,’” Akpoti-Uduaghan recalled.
She described such remarks as sexist and inappropriate.
When asked how other senators reacted, she said, “They all laughed. People don’t understand what it means to carry this burden. Maybe we don’t talk about it enough in Nigeria or Africa.”
Expressing her frustration, she added, “I just want a place where I can work in peace. I thought the worst was over, but I guess for a woman, it’s never really over, right?”
The Senate suspended Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on March 6 for “gross misconduct and unruly behavior” following a dispute with the Senate President over seating arrangements.
Her suspension came just 24 hours after she filed a sexual harassment petition against Akpabio.
However, the Senate maintained that her suspension was unrelated to the petition.
