A coalition of civil society organizations on Wednesday called on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to pursue formal legal redress over her sexual harassment allegation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, rather than rely primarily on public commentary and media engagement.
The groups, led by the Independent Public Service and Accountability Watch (IPSAW) and Transparency Advocacy for Development Initiative (TADI), expressed concern over what they described as a dangerous deviation from democratic and judicial processes.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Comrade Adeniran Taiwo Olugbenga and Comrade Stephen Eriba, who represented other allied organizations including the Allied Civil Society Organization (ACSO), Guardians of Democracy and Development, and the Forum of Progressive Youth Leaders (FPYL), faulted the Senator’s continued public commentary on the matter.
“This is not how democracy works. This is not how justice is pursued,” the coalition declared.
They noted that while Senator Natasha’s claim—alleging sexual harassment on the floor of the Senate by Senator Akpabio—is a serious matter deserving attention, the reliance on social media posts, defamation suits, and “cryptic threats” undermines due process.
“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.
The CSOs warned that politicizing gender-based allegations could jeopardize the integrity of actual abuse cases, making it harder for real survivors to come forward and be believed.
They described Senator Natasha’s approach as potentially harmful to both women’s political participation and the broader movement for gender equity and justice.
“Weaponizing gender-based claims for political sympathy or vendetta risks undoing decades of advocacy for justice and inclusion,” they said.
While acknowledging the courage it takes to speak against a powerful figure, the coalition insisted that justice must be sought through formal legal processes—specifically calling on the Senator to file a direct sexual harassment lawsuit if her claims are genuine.
They also appealed to gender rights groups and civil society actors to focus on supporting systems that uphold fairness and accountability, rather than aligning behind personalities.
“No one should be silenced—but no one should be allowed to hijack the moral weight of real struggles for personal gamesmanship,” the statement added.
Concluding their remarks, the CSOs said Senator Natasha still has time to “restore the integrity of her cause,” but warned that “the clock is ticking.”
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