A woman participating in a protest to support Senate President Godswill Akpabio stated that she was unaware of the allegations and controversies surrounding the senator from Akwa Ibom.
This is coming on Wednesday after two groups of supporters gathered at the National Assembly: one group supported Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central, while the other group backed Akpabio in a counter-protest. The supporters of Akpoti-Uduaghan were calling for the resignation of the Senate President and an investigation into the sexual harassment allegations against him, while the pro-Akpabio protesters issued various demands, including an apology from Akpoti-Uduaghan to “the Senate, the Senate President, and all Nigerian women.”
Notably, some women who joined the pro-Akpabio protest appeared uncertain about the reasons behind their support for the senator. A video clip shared on X by Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie, a lawyer and media personality, featured a woman admitting her lack of understanding regarding the specific allegations against Akpabio. She expressed her support for him as a means of preventing his removal from office, stating that her decision was based on an instinctual response rather than informed knowledge.
“I am supporting him because I do not perceive any wrongdoing in the allegations being made. Although I am not well-versed in the details, I felt compelled to support him,” she remarked. When asked whether she endorsed Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, she replied, “I do not truly understand the complete context of the situation… I am here today because I was encouraged to come out and support Akpabio, advocating for him to remain as our Senate President.”
It is important to note that Akpoti-Uduaghan previously experienced a seating arrangement dispute with the Senate President in February. Upon resuming that day’s session, her seat was relocated, which she opposed, asserting that it infringed on her privileges. In a subsequent interview on Arise TV following the seating arrangement controversy, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused the Senate President of making suggestive remarks toward her and indicated that her difficulties within the Senate commenced after she rejected Akpabio’s alleged sexual advances.
On Wednesday, she formally submitted a petition to the Senate regarding her allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio. The Senate subsequently referred Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct for further review.
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