Nigeria cannot afford to project leadership perceived to be hostile or disrespectful to women
The Action Collective, a civic advocacy group, has demanded that Godswill Akpabio, the president of the Senate, quit immediately over sexual harassment claims, which the group claims are undermining faith in the National Assembly and national prestige in Nigeria abroad.
The group’s National Coordinator, Mr. Teddy Onyejuwe, released a statement on Thursday in which the group emphasized that the continuation of Akpabio’s leadership of the Senate misrepresents Nigeria’s dedication to accountability and the battle against gender-based violence.
This followed after Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recent accusations, which have brought Akpabio’s alleged inappropriate behavior history back into the spotlight.
The statement reads, “The character of Senator Akpabio has long been in question. As far back as 2020, Joy Nunieh, the former acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), publicly alleged that Akpabio attempted to sexually harass her at his Abuja guest house an advance she claimed to have resisted by slapping him.
“In a functional democracy, a public officer with such a controversial record would have stepped aside to allow for an independent and unhindered investigation,” the group stated. “Nigeria cannot afford to project leadership perceived to be hostile or disrespectful to women.”
The group said the Senate should be transparent and ethical without addressing old or unproven charges.
“We believe in due process, but also in institutional integrity,” the statement continued. “The Senate President should consider stepping aside, at least temporarily, to uphold the dignity of the National Assembly and to reassure citizens and the international community of Nigeria’s commitment to justice.”
The group warned that inaction could harm public trust in democratic institutions, criticizing the Senate’s lackluster response. Action Collective decided that civic society, women’s rights, and international partners should encourage transparency.
“If Nigeria must command global respect, it must be seen to uphold moral and ethical leadership.”