- Demand immediate investigation into sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Akpabio by Senator Natasha Akpoti
- Say Senator Akpabio must step down as Senate President immediately
We, the members of WOMANIFESTO, a coalition of over 350 women’s rights advocates, practitioners, and activists, express our deep concern over recent developments in the National Assembly. The past few days have tested the pulse of Nigeria’s commitment to uphold the integrity of the Nigerian constitution, specifically of the National Assembly.
Nigerians have paid keen attention to the climaxing tension within the Senate, including the repeated derogatory remarks used by the Senate President against his colleagues, especially three well publicized cases of female Senators. It is important to emphasize that lawmakers represent their constituents and must each be accorded respect and dignity on the floor of the Senate; the Senate President is strictly in the status of a first among equals. We expect our lawmakers to uphold the highest standards of excellence and character, worthy of emulation.
In a recent interview, Senator Natasha Akpoti laid allegations of sexual harassment against Senator Godswill Akpabio. This is a grave allegation that cannot be dismissed. We, like millions of Nigerians, recall that a similar allegation was publicly made in 2020 by the former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Joy Nunieh who was a direct report of Senator Akpabio while he was Minister of the Ministry of Niger Delta Development Commission.
While the initial public outburst and escalation of conflict between Senators Akpoti and Akpabio on matters of the re-allocation of seats and alleged denial of legal privileges were serious enough to warrant a call for an investigation, the latest twist has accentuated the necessity for a more urgent action.
We understand that this original conflict was referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for disciplinary review. At this stage, we consider this initial response by the Senate as no longer adequate to assure concerned Nigerians that the facts of this unprecedented crisis will be transparently unearthed and resolved. Cognizant that this grossly degenerating episode has severe implications for the credibility of our highest lawmaking body, the Senate must act appropriately, publicly and with urgency.
Women are grossly underrepresented in Nigerian politics and governance. Nigeria is woefully and embarrassingly at the bottom of the Africa Ranking of Percentage of Women in National Parliaments with only 4 women out of 109 Senators being a mere 3.67%. Also, only 14 women are in the House of Representatives out of 360 members, constituting a mere 3.9%.
Besides the issue of poor representation of women in public decision making, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) is equally at an alarming rate, with statistics showing that 1 in 3 women, across social strata, have experienced violence in their lifetime. As women’s rights advocates, we believe that an allegation of sexual harassment against the 3rd citizen of the country cannot be swept under the carpet. We stand resiliently against all forms of sexual harassment and intimidation of women in their public and private lives.
We therefore demand that the the Senate President Godswill Akpabio steps down immediately to allow an unbiased investigation into the allegation of sexual harassment against. We also demand that the investigation is immediately assigned to the Ethics Committee only on the condition that the Sitting is raised to the status of a Public Hearing. Our demand includes an immediate independent investigation to inform the public hearing by the National Assembly’s Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.
The National Assembly must recognize that it is equally on trial before the whole nation. Do the actions, structures and systems of our public institutions protect Nigerian women and girls? This unfortunate incident is a core learning moment for all Nigerians, especially as it concerns the protection of women and girls against sexual and gender based violence.
We the Women of Nigeria, hereby reiterate our demands:
- Senator Godswill Akpabio must step down as Senate President immediately.
- An immediate investigation into the allegations of sexual harassment levelled against the Senate President Godswill Akpabio by Senator Natasha Akpoti.
- A public hearing by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for transparency and accountability.
- All other matters already in court follow due legal process.
We demand justice. We demand accountability. We demand
the protection of Nigerian women and girls. It is in the public interest for the Senate to accede to our demand.
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
Civil Resource Development and Documentation Center (CIRDDOC)
Citizenship and Human Development Initiative
Charity Women Spring of Salvation
Chedal Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society
Child Care and Adult Protection Initiative (CCAPI)
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)
Country Associates Network (CAN)
Courageous People Health and Development Initiative (CPHDL)
Crestville Development Foundation (CDF)
CWEMA
Daria Media Foundation (DMF)
Development in Practice Gender and Entrepreneurial Initiative (DIPGEI)
Diaspora Womanifesto2019
Dinidari Foundation (DF)
Dorothy Njemanze Foundation (DNF)
Dream Alive Women and Orphans Support Foundation (DAWOS Foundation)
Echoes of Women in Africa Initiatives
Edo Women’s Development Initiative
Education As A Vaccine (EVA)
EiE Nigeria
Emerge Women (EW)
Empowerment and Action Research Centre (EARC)
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
First Future Leadership
FOMWAN
Forward in Action for Education, Poverty and Malnutrition (FACE-PAM)
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)
Gender Strategy Advancement International (GSAI)
Girl Child Advocacy and Education Initiatives
Girl Child Africa
Girl Child Education, Care & Rehabilitation
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)
International Hairstylists, Barber and Body Therapists (IHSTOBAN)
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)
Julie Oyegun Foundation
Foundation for Justice Development and Peace (FJDP)
Justice Development and Peace Mission (JDPM)
KMashi Gamji Women
Kebetkache Women Development And Resources Centre
Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND)
Kungiyar Tallafin Mata Development Initiative (KTMDI)
League of Queens International Empowerment (LQIE)
League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV)
LEDAP
Lift Initiative
League of Queens International Empowerment
Legislative Advocacy Coalition on Violence Against Women Initiative (LACVAW)
MBULA Women Association
Media &Teens Network
Media Concern Initiative for Women and Children
Media Concern Initiative (MediaCon) for Women and Children MODAC
Mothers United and Mobilised (MUMs) More Women in Politics
My Voice My Future NGO
Nasrul – Lahi-L- Faith Society (NASFAT) NAWE
NNEW NAWORG
Nigerian Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ) National Centre for Women Development
National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) NECA’s Network of Entrepreneurial Women Neighbourhood Care-Well Foundation
Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria, NRHJN Next Initiative for Gender Actions (NIGA)
NEWA
NGAS Women Farmers’ Cooperative Society Nigeria Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ) Nigeria For Women Project
Nigeria Labour Congress, Women Committee Nigerian Express
Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NTWF)
Ogayem Merciful Care and Support Initiatives (OMCSI) Ogun Women Alive
Okwuzi Women Forum
Olive Community Development Initiatives Onomese Foundation
Open Arms Initiative for Sustainable Development (OPAISD) Osi Joe Touching Lives Initiative
Ovie Brume Foundation Partners West Africa Peasant Dragnet
Princess Olufemi-Kayode Proactive Gender Initiative (PGI)
Project Alert on Violence Against Women Ray of Hope Community Foundation Relief Development Initiative Kaduna
Responsible Citizenship and Human Development Initiative Sesor Empowerment Foundation
She Forum Africa Safe Space Initiative
Save a Child Lend a Hand Foundation Sheforshe Africa Initiative
She Mentors Initiative Shout Global Health
Small-scale Women Farmers Organization of Nigeria (SWOFON) South- South Professional Women Association.
Stand to End Rape (STER)
Stephanie Peace Building Development Foundation
Support For Needy Children and Women Initiative (SUNCHI) TechHerNG
THR Media
The Inclusion Project (TIP)
The Priceless Jewels Foundation
THR Media – HERFESSIONS INITIATIVE
Tonia Bruised but Not Broken Foundation Transformation and Development Center (TDC) Transition Monitoring Group
Tunde & Friends Foundation (TAFF) UC Women Commission
UTO Foundation
Vision Spring Initiatives (VSI) Voice of Ogun Women (VOW) West African Network for Peace WEWENETWORK AFRIQUE WEPDN
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)
Women for Peace and Gender Equality Initiative (WOPEGEE) Women for Women International (W4WI)
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)
Women in Agriculture (WIA)
Women in Mining (WIM)
Women Information Network (WINET)
Women Initiative for Democracy and Empowerment (WIDE) Women Law and Development Initiative (WOLDI)
Women Law Development Center of Nigeria (WLDCN) Women Lead Agric (WLA)
Women League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) Women of Vision Development Initiative Women Protection Organization (WOPO)
Women Wing of The Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN) Women, Infants and Children Care Initiative (WICCI)
Women, Youths and Children Advancement Program Women Optimum Development Foundation-WODEF Women Right to Education Programme (WREP) Women’s Crisis Centre Owerri
Women’s Rights and Health Project
Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP) Working Moms Africa (WMA)
Feminist Womanifesto
Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) Women Initiative on Climate change
Women in Management Buisness and Public Service (WIMBIZ) WISCAR
Women Democracy Network Africa – Nigeria WomenPreneurs (AWEBO)
Yiaga Africa
Youth Future Savers Initiative (YFSI) Zonta International Club of Lagos 1 50MAWSP
