By Sharon Akuboh
A Coalition of over 350 women’s rights advocates, practitioners, and activists, under the umbrella of WOMANIFESTO, has expressed deep concern over the recent developments in the National Assembly. The group is demanding a public hearing into the allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, levied by Senator Natasha Akpoti.
The women’s group emphasized that lawmakers must be accorded respect and dignity on the floor of the Senate, and that the Senate President is strictly a first among equals. They expect their lawmakers to uphold the highest standards of excellence and character, worthy of emulation.
This incident has brought to the fore the severe implications for the credibility of Nigeria’s highest lawmaking body. WOMANIFESTO is demanding that Senator Akpabio steps down immediately to allow for an unbiased investigation. They also call for the investigation to be assigned to the Ethics Committee, with the condition that the sitting is raised to the status of a public hearing.
Key Demands:
- Immediate Step-Down: Senator Godswill Akpabio must step down as Senate President immediately.
- Public Hearing: A public hearing by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for transparency and accountability.
- Independent Investigation: An immediate independent investigation to inform the public hearing.
- Justice and Accountability: The women’s group demands justice, accountability, and the protection of Nigerian women and girls.
WOMANIFESTO’s demands come at a time when Nigeria is ranked at the bottom of the Africa Ranking of Percentage of Women in National Parliaments, with only 4 women out of 109 Senators and 14 women out of 360 members in the House of Representatives.