Senate President Godswill Akpabio has denied allegations of sexual harassment made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, stating that he has never attempted to harass her or any other woman.
Akpabio emphasized his respect for women, citing his upbringing by a single mother who taught him to value and respect women.
The denial comes after the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition against Akpabio.
In a surprising move, Akpabio asked the committee to investigate the allegations, despite the petition being thrown out.
Akpabio’s decision was met with resistance from Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, and Chief Whip, Tahir Monguno, who cited senate rules against allowing petitions from serving senators.
However, Akpabio stood firm, refusing to reverse his decision or allow the senate to dissolve into a closed session.
The allegations have sparked a national debate on gender equality and sexual harassment. Over 300 women’s groups have condemned Akpabio’s previous remarks, which they deemed sexist and misogynistic.
The controversy has also led to calls for an investigation into the allegations and for Akpabio to apologize for his remarks.
