Senate President Godswill Akpabio spoke again on the scandal rocking the 10th Senate under his watch over sexual harassment allegation against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker from Kogi State, saying it is traumatising the 10th Senate.
This is just as the United Nations has urged women around the world to stand their ground in the face of adversity, saying that the 2025 International Women’s Day (IWD) is a chance for women to rise and make the world equal and better for everyone.”
Akpabio, who spoke at an event to commemorate IWD, maintained innocence of allegations of sexual harassment, saying previous allegations by Natasha ended up false.
According to the Senate President: “It is only yesterday 9Friday) that I realized that what we are talking about only happened when there was a change of seat. That is when hell was let loose and all sorts of allegations came up. Only after the change of seat and change of committee which my Senators know happen from time to time.
“This is said to have happened on the 8th of December, a day to my birthday which was celebrated in the Stadium in 2023. So from 8th of December 2023, I never heard, my wife never heard, no Nigerian ever heard, even the husband never heard any issue of sexual harassment until her committee was changed and then her seat was changed.
“Have ever wondered the trauma caused by that same woman on the other people she has accused in the past. None has been proven so far. Do you even wonder the trauma this caused to the 10th Senate and the image of the Senate with all this useless allegations. I have refrained myself from making a statement.
“Look at these beautiful women. They have come across me so many times. Have I ever harassed any one of you? Or is the person thinking that you are not beautiful?”
Meanwhile, the UN wrote on its X handle to mark the IWD, saying: “On International Women’s Day (8 March), that is the bold call for action for all women and girls worldwide. As we mark the 30th year of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the world is deeply unequal.
“International Women’s Day is a chance to rise and demand action and to deliver on the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action to make the world equal and better for everyone.
“There is power in each woman who stands her ground. There is power in each girl with a book in her hands. There is power in each leader who speaks up for equality,” saying there is hope on women’s rights, listening the progress to include:
- “For 89 per cent of governments, ending violence against women is a top priority today, and 193 countries have legal measures against it.
- Data shows that countries with domestic violence laws have seen fewer cases of violence against women.
- Most of the world has reached parity in education. By bridging the gender gap in accessing and shaping science and technology, we clear the remaining bottlenecks to equal opportunities and create technology that serves more people and the planet.
- More States have strengthened care services and 32 per cent of countries globally now promote better pay and safe working conditions for care workers.
- There are 112 countries with a national plan to engage women in peace and security processes – a significant increase from 19 countries in 2010.
The theme for this year’s celebration is tagged: “Invest in Women, Accelerate Action”