The hearing was convened to address the sexual harassment allegations made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In an exclusive interview with Arise TV, Ezekwesili explained the events that led to the confrontation. She revealed that she, along with other supporters of Senator Natasha, had attended the Senate hearing in solidarity with the suspended senator, who had made serious allegations against Akpabio.
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However, Ezekwesili stated that upon their arrival, they were met with dismissiveness from several Senators, including Nwaebonyi, who implied that their presence and support for Akpoti-Uduaghan were not taken seriously.
Ezekwesili described how the atmosphere in the chamber was tense and dismissive, with some Senators belittling those who had come to voice their concerns. According to her, the Senators downplayed the severity of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations and seemed uninterested in giving the matter the attention it deserved.
They dismissed us, implying that we were unserious, Ezekwesili said during the interview. “It was clear that they did not regard the sexual harassment allegations as an issue that warranted genuine discussion or attention.
The tension escalated when Nwaebonyi, who had been speaking at the time, attempted to continue his remarks. Ezekwesili, clearly frustrated with the dismissive attitude and the lack of seriousness being shown by the Senate members, interrupted him.
“I told him to shut up, she said, explaining that her outburst was a reaction to the disrespectful atmosphere in the chamber. She felt that the Senators were not addressing the gravity of the situation and were instead trying to sweep the matter under the rug.
Ezekwesili added that this provoked a harsh response from Nwaebonyi. According to her, the Senator came at her aggressively, insulting her and attempting to silence her further. She said that the insults were meant to intimidate her, but instead, they only fueled her resolve to continue speaking out against what she perceived as a serious injustice.
The altercation between Ezekwesili and Nwaebonyi is just one example of the ongoing tensions in the Senate over the handling of serious allegations against powerful political figures.
Ezekwesili, known for her outspoken advocacy for women’s rights and accountability, has since reiterated the need for the Senate to take such matters seriously and ensure that all allegations of misconduct are thoroughly investigated.
She called for a complete overhaul of how sensitive issues like sexual harassment are handled in the Senate and other governmental institutions.
