A coalition of civil society organisations, led by the Independent Public Service and Accountability Watch (IPSAW) and the Transparency Advocacy for Development Initiative (TADI), has strongly criticised Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s handling of her sexual harassment allegation against the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, describing it as a troubling descent into “political theatre” that undermines due process.
At a press conference held in Abuja on Wednesday, the groups expressed deep disappointment over what they termed “a dangerous detour from truth, justice, and democratic integrity,” warning that the senator’s reliance on social media outrage, defamation suits, and dramatic public commentary risks turning a serious issue into a sideshow.
Addressing the press on behalf of several other allied organizations, including the Allied Civil Society Organization (ACSO), Guardians of Democracy and Development, and the Forum of Progressive Youth Leaders (FPYL), Comrade Adeniran Taiwo Olugbenga and Comrade Stephen Eriba, accused Senator Natasha of shifting focus away from the core allegation of harassment toward what they called “emotionally charged and legally unfocused narratives.”
“This is not how democracy works. This is not how justice is pursued,” the coalition declared firmly.
They underscored that Senator Natasha’s original claim, of being subjected to demeaning and sexually suggestive remarks by the Senate President on the Senate floor, is a serious matter that deserves proper legal redress. However, instead of pursuing justice through Nigeria’s sexual harassment legal framework, she has, according to the CSOs, resorted to defamation suits and vague social media posts about threats to her life.
“When you raise an allegation as profound as sexual harassment, especially against the nation’s third-highest-ranking official, the burden of proof is not a political inconvenience, it is a civic duty,” the groups stated.
While acknowledging the gender power imbalance in Nigerian politics and the difficulty of confronting powerful figures, the coalition insisted that authentic justice must be pursued through established judicial processes, not via media campaigns or speculative accusations.
They warned that Senator Natasha’s current approach, if left unchecked, could harm broader democratic and gender equity efforts. It risks trivializing real cases of abuse, they said, by turning such claims into tools of political strategy rather than sincere calls for justice.
“We refuse to allow the gains of gender equity and political decency to be sacrificed on the altar of personal sensationalism,” they said, urging the senator to file a direct lawsuit under Nigeria’s anti-harassment laws if her claims are genuine.
The CSOs also called on women’s rights advocates, civic organizations, and human rights defenders to champion truth and due process, not personalities.
“No one should be silenced, but no one should be allowed to hijack the moral weight of real struggles for personal gamesmanship,” they added.
They concluded by affirming that this moment transcends any single individual or party, it is about the future of Nigeria’s democracy, the credibility of public complaint mechanisms, and the sanctity of the judicial process.
“Senator Natasha still has the opportunity to restore the integrity of her cause. But the clock is ticking.”It added.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
