By Sodeeq Kamsela, Abuja
Ireti Kingibe, the Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), recently spoke out against her fellow Senator from Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, for not following the proper seating protocol in the Senate.
Kingibe pointed out that while Natasha’s actions were wrong in this instance, adding that she had previously enjoyed more privileges than the other three female Senators.
However, Kingibe did acknowledge that the situation between Natasha and Senate President Godswill Akpabio only started to go wrong after Natasha allegedly rejected Akpabio’s sexual advances.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan appeared on The Morning Show on Arise News, where she claimed that her ongoing conflict with Akpabio began after she turned down his alleged sexual advances. According to her, this rejection led to a series of disagreements, culminating in her problems in the Senate.
Later that afternoon, Ireti Kingibe, who also serves as the chairperson of the Senate Women Affairs Committee, gave her perspective in an interview on Arise News. Kingibe emphasized that the four female Senators in the Senate have a close relationship, calling Natasha like a “daughter” due to the age gap between them.
Despite this personal connection, Kingibe was critical of Natasha’s disregard for Senate rules, particularly when it comes to seating arrangements. Kingibe pointed out that such seat changes happen to other Senators as well and that everyone in the Senate is expected to follow these rules.
“I wasn’t in the Senate the day the issue occurred,” Kingibe explained. “When I returned, my driver told me there was a problem. As soon as I heard Natasha’s name mentioned, I immediately called her, as I do whenever something concerns her.
She tried to explain the seating issue, but she didn’t give me a full explanation before saying she’d call me back. I never heard from her again. I called her twice without a response. So, I decided to call her husband, who told me she was in Singapore, which could explain why she didn’t pick up the phone. I told him that this situation shouldn’t be happening.”
Kingibe then discussed the broader issue of gender dynamics within the Senate. While she acknowledged that the Senate is not as friendly to women as it should be, she also noted that there have been improvements over time. “It’s true that the Senate isn’t very gender-friendly, but things have gotten better compared to when we first arrived. When we raise concerns, the Senate President usually takes action to address them,” she said. “The Senate could do more for women, but in general, we face similar challenges as the male Senators. The bigger issue is that the Senate is not always friendly to the opposition.”
Kingibe also pointed out that Natasha has received more privileges than the other female Senators, noting that her seat had been moved several times. “The seat I currently sit in has been moved four times,” she explained. “But Natasha has had more privileges than the other three of us.”
Addressing the silence of the other female Senators, Kingibe explained that they have chosen not to speak publicly against Natasha. “The other three women have stayed silent because sometimes silence is the best response, especially when one of us is not following the rules,” she said. “We didn’t want to say anything negative about Natasha in public, hoping that the situation would blow over, as many things do in the Senate. But the silence doesn’t mean we don’t notice what’s happening.”
Kingibe also addressed the sexual harassment allegations between Natasha and Akpabio, distancing herself from the situation. She explained that she isn’t close enough to Akpabio to discuss personal matters like sexual harassment. “I don’t know if there’s been sexual harassment between Natasha and Akpabio,” she said. “But it’s clear that they had a personal relationship even before they came to the Senate. As for me, I didn’t have any prior relationship with Senator Akpabio before joining the Senate, so I can’t speak to that.”
Kingibe also recounted an instance where she helped Natasha by collecting documents on her behalf in the Senate. “There was a time when I went to Natasha’s house to collect some documents for her. While I was there, she told me she was supposed to meet with Senator Akpabio at a hotel. I advised her to only meet the Senator in official settings, like the Senate office. I felt it was inappropriate to meet in a hotel,” Kingibe explained.
Kingibe’s remarks paint a picture of a complicated relationship within the Senate, highlighting both personal connections and political disagreements. While the female Senators in the Senate share a strong bond, they also face the challenges of navigating a male-dominated institution where gender dynamics and power struggles frequently intersect. Kingibe’s comments suggest that the ongoing tensions in the Senate, particularly between Natasha and Akpabio, are not just about seating arrangements but also reflect deeper issues related to power, respect, and gender equality within Nigerian politics.
