A former lawmaker, Senator Ayodele Arise, has weighed in on the sexual harassment allegations raised by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, stating that every beautiful woman is subject to such gestures globally.
Speaking on Arise TV’s Morning Show on Saturday, Arise suggested that the matter should have been handled privately rather than becoming a national issue at a time when the country faces pressing challenges. He emphasized that while there is sympathy toward women in harassment claims, there should be clear distinctions between inappropriate advances and legally recognized offenses.
“Every woman that is good-looking is subjected to such gestures. Even people take other people’s wives, not just in Nigeria,” Arise remarked. “Would that be an issue for the TV for a senator? Of course, it wouldn’t have been right if it had happened. But even compliments like ‘you are beautiful’ or ‘you are gorgeous’ could be termed sexual harassment.”
He further questioned whether a high-ranking official like Akpoti-Uduaghan would make similar claims if she were the president of Nigeria, arguing that she could have simply declined any alleged advances.
Arise also criticized the Senate’s decision to suspend Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months, describing it as excessive and unconstitutional. He referenced previous court rulings on similar suspensions, noting that long suspensions deprive constituents of representation.
“When you suspend an elected person, you deprive that district of the right to representation. The court, in the cases of Omo-Agege and Ndume, has said those six months are too long and illegal. A maximum of 30 days should be considered for an erring senator,” he stated.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, effective March 6, 2025, followed a report by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, which cited multiple infractions against Senate rules.
Meanwhile, Akpabio has denied the harassment allegations, urging Nigerians to avoid premature conclusions. “At no time did I sexually harass Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. My late single mother raised me, and I have the highest regard for women,” he said.
The suspension has sparked widespread criticism from legal experts, civil society groups, and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with many calling for Akpoti-Uduaghan’s reinstatement. The Minister of Women Affairs has also intervened, as female coalitions threaten protests over what they describe as an attempt to silence a female lawmaker.
