In a bold and controversial stance, former Cross-River South Senator, Florence Ita-Giwa, has dismissed Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations of sexual harassment, asserting that such experiences should be a thing of the past for women who attain senatorial positions.
Speaking on Arise TV on the 4th of March, 2025, Ita-Giwa stated that making such claims as a female lawmaker reflects weakness rather than strength.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had earlier accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of deliberately frustrating her motions on the Ajaokuta Steel Company after she rejected his alleged sexual advances.
However, Ita-Giwa countered, saying, “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 further insisted that such allegations have no place in the Senate, emphasizing that female lawmakers should assert their authority rather than claim victimhood. “And again, it shows weakness; you don’t allow it. It (sexual harassment) cannot happen in the Senate.”
While clarifying that she wasn’t outrightly accusing Akpoti-Uduaghan of lying, Ita-Giwa maintained that women who secure senatorial positions should not view themselves as vulnerable.
“When you get to the Senate, you’re there as a person. You’re not there as a woman.”
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When questioned on whether female lawmakers should speak out about inappropriate behavior from colleagues, the former presidential adviser doubled down on her stance, arguing that raising such accusations at the senatorial level reflects a lack of strength. “At that stage in politics, if you come out and say someone is sexually harassing you, it is a weakness,” she insisted.
Reaffirming her perspective, she added, “I’m saying that it does not; it would not happen in the Senate, and it should not happen in the Senate. And again, I’m not here to defend anybody in politics.”
Ita-Giwa stressed that female senators should see themselves as equals to their male counterparts, reminding them that winning a senatorial election is a testament to their political strength.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s fallout with Akpabio took a dramatic turn last week when she discovered that her Senate seat had been reassigned, leading to a moment of tension during plenary.
Detailing her grievances on Arise TV, she revealed that her issues with Akpabio began in December 2023 when she and her husband attended his birthday celebration. She alleged that while showing her around his home, Akpabio made inappropriate advances, prompting her husband to caution her against ever being alone with him.
Although Akpabio has remained silent on the allegations, his wife, Ekaette Akpabio, has come to his defense, not only denouncing Akpoti-Uduaghan but also filing a defamation lawsuit against her.