We the members of Womanifesto, a coalition of over 350 women’s rights advocates, activists, and practitioners, watched the shocking move by the Nigerian Senate to suspend the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, amid the grave allegation of sexual harassment which she leveled against the sitting Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
It is utterly perturbing that the Senate, especially members of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, do not prioritize the exigency of a sexual harassment allegation against the third most powerful person in Nigeria, has not offered any form of respite, dismissed Senator Natasha’s initial petition, and maintained a posture set against her. Instead, the Senate has shut the door in the face of a possible victim of sexual harassment, setting a dangerous precedent for victims of sexual and gender-based violence across Nigeria.
Two days ago, Womanifesto released a press statement demanding a public hearing on the sexual harassment allegation against the Senate President. Yesterday, we watched with dismay as the accused in this case, Senate President Godswill Akpabio received the petition against himself and continued to preside over the Senate despite the allegation.
Nigerians are left in consternation that the outcome of any investigations by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions will be predictably unjust.
The announced 6 months suspension includes the unhinged declaration that she must not be seen in and around the Senate, and her security details stripped off.
Womanifesto wonders how, and the integrity of, investigations would be carried out in the absence of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The rules of the Senate, and legal precedent, clearly show that a Senator cannot be suspended for more than 14 days. This unjustifiable suspension denies her constituents access to representation in the Senate.
There was also an existing court order restraining the Senate from carrying out disciplinary action against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. It is expected that a responsible leadership would obey, and argue their position on the legitimacy of the order before the court.
The blatant disregard and dismissal of an existing court order parade the parliament as one with disdain for the rule of law. The red chambers must protect the integrity of our democracy.
Womanifesto hereby demands that:
1. Senator Godswill Akpabio steps down as Senate President for the period of the investigation against him.
2. The Senate publishes its House rules on Sexual harassment and assault. In the absence of such existing rules, the House must urgently begin the process of establishing clear rules of engagement, reporting, and investigation of sexual and gender-based violence within the National Assembly.
3. The draconian suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan be lifted immediately, to allow her full access to justice and protect the interests of her constituents.
This is a crucial moment in the advocacy against sexual and gender-based violence. The Senate must be seen and perceived to be fair, just, and against sexual harassment of Nigerian women and girls in words and actions.
Signed
Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi,
Co-Convener Womanifesto
Enough is Enough
Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC)
She Forum Africa
Alliances for Africa (AFA)
9jafeminista
Above Whispers Foundation
Action Aid Nigeria
ACTS Generation GBV
Ade Grange Child Foundation
ADEM Community Human Development Foundation
Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF)
Advocate for Health and Development Initiative
African Women’s Initiative (AWI)
Ajegunle Community Project
Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation
Alliances for Africa (AfA)
Amazing Grace Inspirations
Aminchi Women Cooperative Society
Amnesty International Nigeria
ARDA Development Communication Inc.
Arise Nigerian Woman Foundation
ASWHAN
ATATA Development and Empowerment Foundation (ADEF)
Affirmative Action Initiative for Women (NCAA)
Association of Nigeria Women’s Business Network (ANWBN)
Association of Women in Trade and Agriculture (AWITA)
Association Against Women Exploitation and Degradation (AAWED)
Amaclare Connect and Development Initiative
AWEP
ANWIBAWFAN
FEBWE
FEDAN
BLECCA Foundation
Bring Back Our Girls
Briskila Emefesi Women Foundation (BEWOF)
Baobab for Women’s Human Rights
Cece Yara Foundation
Cedar Seed Foundation
CEE-HOPE Nigeria
Center for Economic Empowerment and Gender Activities (CEEGA)
Centre for Alternative Development and Self-Enhancement (CEADESE NG)
Centre for Health and Development in Africa (CHEDA)
Centre for Nonviolence and Gender Advocacy in Nigeria (CENGAIN)
Centre for Peace Education and Community Development
Centre for Women’s Health and Information (CEWHIN)
Change Managers International Network
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Citizenship and Human Development Initiative
Charity Women Spring of Salvation
Chedal Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society
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Choung-Dung Women Association
Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment in Nigerian Society (CWEENS)
Christian Women in Nigerian Politics
Citizens Center for Integrated Development and Social Rights (CCIDESOR)
Community and Youth Development
Community Education Advancement of Peace and Development Initiative (CEAPDI)
Community Initiative for Healthy and Peaceful Society
Community Life Project (CLP)
Community Rescue Initiative (CRI)
Community Women Initiatives (CWI)
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EiE Nigeria
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Equality Through Education Foundation (ETEF)
Equity Advocates/ The Woman Today Newspaper
FACICP Disability Plus
FAME Foundation
Federation of Informal Workers of Nigeria (FIWON)
Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN)
Federation of Paralegal Network (FEDPAN)
Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA)
Fembridge Development Initiative (FEDI)
FIDA Nigeria
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FOMWAN
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FRED
FEDAN
Gender Action Awareness Trust
Gender and Constitution Reform Network (GECORN)
Gender and Development Action (GADA)
Gender and Environmental Risk Reduction Initiative (GERI)
Gender Awareness Trust (GAT)
Gender Development Initiative
Gender Equality Center
Gender Equality, Peace and Development Centre
Gender Technical Unit (GTU)
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Girl Child Advocacy and Education Initiatives
Girl Child Africa
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Girl Education Rehabilitation and Care (GERAC)
Girls Power Initiative (GPI)
Global Hope for Women and Children Foundation (GLOHWOC)
Green Spring Development Initiative
Gender Awareness Trust (GAT)
Gender and Constitution Reform Network (GECORN)
Habiba Dangana (Hadis) Foundation
Heal Disability Initiative
Health Education and Human Rights Advocacy Initiative
Health Reform Foundation Of Nigeria (HERFON)
HEIR Women Development (HWD)
Help Initiative for Social Justice & Humanitarian Development
Hope for New Life (HNL)
International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria
Initiative for Research, Innovation and Advocacy in Development (IRIAD)
Inter Africa Committee (IAC)
Inter Gender Peace Foundation (IGPF)
International Action Network on Small Arms Women Network (IANSA)
International Federation of Women Lawyers (Fida Nigeria)
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International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH)
International Women Communication Centre (IRIAD)
Iyaniwura Children Care Foundation (ICCF)
Jamatul Nasir Islam, Women Wing
Jana Health Foundation (JHF)
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Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND)
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MBULA Women Association Media &Teens Network
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Small-scale Women Farmers Organization of Nigeria (SWOFON) South- South Professional Women Association.
Stand to End Rape (STER)
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Widows Development Organization (WIDO) Woman-Being Concern Nigeria (WBC) Women’s Leadership Group (WLG)
Women &Youth Awareness Empowerment Network (WOYAEN) Women Advocacy, HIV Prevention and Other Diseases (WAHPOD) Women AT Risk International Foundation(WARIF)
Women Aid Collective (WACOL)
Women in Mining
Women and Youth Empowerment for Advancement and Health Initiative Women Youth and Children Upliftment Foundation (WYCUT)
Women Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON)
Women education advocacy and development Initiatives (WEADI) Women Empowerment and Initiative Development
Women Empowerment and Reproductive Health Centre (WERHC)
Women Empowerment Education and Peace Building Initiative (WEPBI) Women Environmental Programme (WEP)
Women Farmers Alliance (WFA)
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Women Foundation Initiative (WFI) Women Foundation of Nigeria (WFN)
Women in Action for Positive Development and Gender Enhancement Center (WAPGADEC) Former Women Action Organization (WAO)
Women in Africa Initiative (WIAI)
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Women League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) Women of Vision Development Initiative Women Protection Organization (WOPO)
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