More Than 24 Hours After Alleged Sexual Harassment, Akpabio Fails To React
The sexual harassment allegation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio by his counterpart from Kogi Central senatorial district, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, is now more than 24 hours.
Akpabio, THE WHISTLER understands from credible sources that he “is unhappy, sad, and disappointed,” with an aide to one of his inner cactus senators describing Akpabio’s mood as “shame. He’s feeling really ashamed of the whole thing.”
The former Akwa Ibom Governor on Friday came under serious sexual gratification claims by Natasha, who alleged she had been denied all her privileges and “suffering” because of Akpabio’s failure “to spend quality time” with her where she “will enjoy it.”
She had claimed on Arise TV that in 2023, at Akpabio’s invitation for his birthday party in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, Akpabio held his hand with his husband in tow, saying, “‘Now that you are a senator, I’m going to create time for us to come and spend quality moments here. You will enjoy it.
“At that point, I just pulled away… that I don’t understand what he meant.”
She also alleged that Akpabio assaulted her sexually in his office in the National Assembly when she went in for a discussion over an official assignment.
But Akpabio, who is reportedly “feeling ashamed and disturbed” over the allegation that has dominated the airwaves, has not responded.
But the wife, Unoma Akpabio, rose to the defence of the politician, who has often been accused of sexual escapades, always saying the “allegation is unfortunate.”
She argued that “as a governor, the number of women we had then in government, I don’t think any government has had that number of women.
“But in Akwa Ibom, when he was governor, a lot of women were involved in governance. None of them, not one, ever said something like this.”
Mrs Akpabio vowed to seek legal redress and reportedly sued the Kogi senator a few hours later on Friday after her TV interview.
Unlike in July 2020, when Joy Nunieh, former acting managing director of the NDCC, claimed she slapped Akpabio, who was then the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, for sexually assaulting her, Akpabio reacted quite quickly; this time he has not reacted.
Attempts to speak with the embattled senator failed as calls made to his telephone line did not connect, and he’s yet to respond to a message sent to him.
Also, his spokesperson, Eseme Eyibo, failed to respond to phone calls and has yet to respond to messages sent to him.
More Than 24 Hours After Alleged Sexual Harassment, Akpabio Fails To React is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
