Following the National Assembly imbroglio, a coalition of over 360 women’s rights advocates, practitioners, and activists in Nigeria WOMANIFESTO has demanded that senator Godswill Akpabio must step down as Senate President immediately to allow an unbiased investigation into the allegation of sexual harassment against him.
This was contained in a press statement signed by Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, co convener, WOMANIFESTO, and made available to journalists on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to the statement, the group also demands 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 follows 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. “
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.”
