Senator Ireti Kingibe has denied knowledge of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s harassment claims against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, stating that Natasha never mentioned it and has received more privileges than other female senators. Kingibe urged better communication among lawmakers and warned against public disputes damaging the Senate’s credibility.
Senator Ireti Kingibe has weighed in on the ongoing controversy surrounding allegations made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, stating that she does not know of any misconduct. In a recent interview, Kingibe emphasized that Akpoti-Uduaghan has never confided in her or the other female senators about experiencing harassment.
According to Kingibe, while she and other female senators have faced challenges, Akpoti-Uduaghan has received more privileges than her female counterparts in the Senate. She cited frequent seat relocations, stating that while her seating arrangement had changed multiple times, Akpoti-Uduaghan had been accommodated more favorably.
Kingibe also revealed that she was hospitalized on the day of the alleged incident and only learned about it afterward. She attempted to contact Akpoti-Uduaghan for clarification, but her calls were unanswered. Despite contacting Akpoti-Uduaghan’s husband, she was unable to get further details.
Acknowledging the broader issue of gender representation in Nigerian politics, Kingibe admitted that the Senate has historically been unfriendly to women but noted that progress has been made. She urged for better communication among female legislators to prevent misunderstandings and warned that public disputes over internal Senate matters could damage the institution’s credibility.
