Protesters under the aegis of Women for Change Vanguard took the lingering face-off between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Kogi Central lawmaker, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, to the United Nations office in Abuja on Friday.
Chanting solidarity songs and displaying several banners that read ‘We believe in actual victims of sexual harassment, not people who weaponise it’ and ‘The burden of proof lies with the accuser”, the protesters challenged Akpoti-Uduaghan to provide evidence of the alleged sexual harassment she accused Akpabio of.
The protest comes barely 24 hours after Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a contempt charge against Akpabio and others over her six-month suspension without pay from the Senate.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had escalated her dispute with Akpabio, presenting her case at a United Nations forum, International Parliamentary Union, alleging political victimisation.
She was suspended on 6 March after a heated confrontation with the Senate leadership over a new seating arrangement, which she claimed was designed to undermine her.
Tensions intensified when Akpoti-Uduaghan, on national television, accused Akpabio of punishing her for rejecting his alleged sexual advances.
Addressing the representatives of the United Nations in Abuja, the leader of the protesters, Irene Umoh, explained that the women’s group decided to petition the UN on Friday following the manner in which Akpoti-Uduaghan has been trying to play the victim on the international stage.
Umoh also charged the global organisation to ask the suspended legislator to provide the world with credible evidence of the alleged sexual harassment.
She said: ‘This is not the first time Senator Natasha has made serious allegations against a prominent figure. Such actions risk becoming a weapon she wields against men in power, undermining the core principles of our fight against sexual violence.
‘As mothers and members of the Women for Change Vanguard, we are acutely aware of the implications of false accusations. Such claims not only harm the accused but also diminish the experiences of genuine survivors.
‘We call on Senator Natasha to provide concrete evidence of her claims against Senator Godswill Akpabio. Should credible evidence be presented, we will stand firm in our commitment to ensuring that justice is served’.
According to her, if every allegation of sexual harassment against the opposite gender is allowed to stand without credible evidence, many women would start weaponising it against innocent men.
‘Our peaceful protest today is not merely about demanding justice, and it is also about holding both parties accountable. Senator Akpabio must have the opportunity to clear his name, while Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan must provide evidence that she was sexually abused.
‘As women, we must not be perceived as weak. Instead, we must embody strength and resilience, particularly in the workplace and beyond’, she stated.
Receiving the petition from the protesting women, the UN Senior Human Rights Advisor, Adwoa Kufuor, promised to channel their grievances to the right quarters in the organisation.
