The wife of the Senate President, Ekaette Akpabio, has strongly denied allegations of sexual harassment leveled against her husband, Senator Godswill Akpabio, by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Senator Natasha, in an interview with Arise TV on Friday, claimed that she had been unfairly maligned on several occasions by the Senate President due to her refusal to yield to his alleged advances. She further asserted that some of her legislative motions had been sidelined as a result of rejecting Akpabio’s purported propositions.
However, responding to the allegations while speaking with journalists at her Abuja residence, Mrs. Akpabio dismissed the claims as baseless and unfounded. She expressed disbelief over the accusations, emphasizing that their families have shared a cordial relationship over the years.
“It is an unfortunate accusation. It is very demeaning because that is a family… we knew the husband before he married her. We have always known the man. They are still very good friends. I really don’t understand where this is coming from,” Mrs. Akpabio stated.
She questioned why Senator Natasha’s husband had not reacted if the alleged harassment had indeed occurred, particularly in Akwa Ibom, where the incident was purported to have taken place.
“For somebody to make such an allegation, there must be a discussion at home, a sanction, or an approval. And if the approval has come from the husband—our friend—I believe he would have spoken to me because we are close. If the wife had complained about such a thing and he still comes and acts normal… there is no man whose wife will tell him, ‘Oh, your friend harassed me,’ that will not frown. First of all, the attitude towards the person will change, but his attitude never changed,” she argued.
Mrs. Akpabio went on to commend her husband as a man of integrity, discipline, and respect for women. She highlighted his long-standing commitment to promoting women’s inclusion in governance, even before assuming the role of Senate President.
“The Senate President is a very, very responsible and disciplined man,” she affirmed.
The allegations have sparked mixed reactions from the public, with some calling for further investigations, while others have dismissed them as political maneuvering. As of now, Senator Akpabio has yet to make a personal statement regarding the matter.
