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Senator Neda Imasuen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Relations, has dismissed allegations of sexual misconduct against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, stating that no female senator has complained about harassment.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, Imasuen emphasised that interactions in the Senate are often lighthearted, and any perception of familiarity as harassment is misplaced.
“We have four female senators in this assembly, and I am close to three of them. It is a matter of privilege, and I don’t think it is directed at any individual because of sex,” he said.
Addressing concerns about perceived bias in recognising senators during proceedings, Imasuen noted that all lawmakers occasionally feel overlooked but insisted that Akpabio does not discriminate based on gender.
“If I were to give you my own experience, there are many occasions that I also complain. There are times I raise up my hands and the senate president does not recognise me but he recognises someone behind me and I am wondering why. But he cannot entertain every senator at a sitting who has an opinion ad so it takes his prerogative and I don’t believe that he does so because of the sex of the senator,” he explained.
Dismissing any inappropriate conduct by Akpabio, Imasuen added, “We joke a lot in the Senate. If you sit in the Senate for four or five months or even a year, you will understand. We see each other every day. If familiarity is what is being considered as some sort of harassment, then I don’t know. But for me, I don’t think that the conduct of the senate president is such that is against the female.”
Imasuen’s comments come in the wake of accusations from Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who alleged that Senate President Akpabio made inappropriate advances towards her during a visit to his residence in Akwa Ibom last December.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central, detailed the alleged incident, which she claimed happened a day before both their birthdays. Her accusations surfaced following a heated confrontation in the Senate chamber last week when Akpabio ordered her removal for resisting a reassignment of her seat.
The dispute arose after two opposition senators defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), prompting a reshuffling of seat assignments. Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that her privileges had been violated and attempted to raise a point under Senate Order 10, leading to a tense exchange.
Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno defended Akpabio’s actions, stating that it is within the Senate President’s authority to reassign seats and that lawmakers are required to speak from their designated positions.
Chioma Kalu
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