Former Presidential Adviser and ex-Senator Florence Ita-Giwa has dismissed Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims of sexual harassment, arguing that women who attain senatorial positions cannot be sexually harassed.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan recently alleged on a live television program that Senate President Godswill Akpabio obstructed her attempts to raise motions on the Ajaokuta Steel Company in Kogi State because she refused his advances.
Reacting to the allegation during an interview on Arise TV on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, Ita-Giwa asserted that female senators should not claim to be victims of sexual harassment, emphasizing that entering the Senate signifies a stage where such issues should no longer be a concern.
“By the time you contest elections and get to the Senate, you have moved past the stage of being sexually harassed. You are there to serve, and everyone is equal. Complaining about it shows weakness; you don’t allow it. Sexual harassment cannot happen in the Senate,” she said.
While stating that she was not outrightly dismissing Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claim, Ita-Giwa insisted that female lawmakers should see themselves as equals to their male counterparts.
“At that stage in politics, if you come out and say someone is sexually harassing you, it is a weakness,” she added.
When asked if female lawmakers should remain silent in cases of harassment, Ita-Giwa reiterated her stance, insisting that making such accusations at that level of politics reflects weakness.
“I do not support Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan on this matter. It is the worst sign of weakness for a woman to publicly accuse a man of making passes at her at this level,” she said.
She concluded that women who win senatorial elections have demonstrated strength and should not see themselves as inferior to their male colleagues.
