Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of repeatedly making inappropriate and suggestive remarks toward her, both inside and outside the Senate chamber. Her suspension from the Senate on March 6, officially attributed to “gross misconduct and unruly behavior” during a seating arrangement dispute with Akpabio, came just a day after she formally submitted a sexual harassment petition against him. In an interview with the BBC, Akpoti-Uduaghan dismissed the misconduct allegations as a tactic to silence her. She claimed that Akpabio frequently made inappropriate advances toward her, sometimes in the presence of other senators. “He would squeeze my hands in a very suggestive way,” she said. Recalling a particular incident, she stated, “There was a time I forgot to wear my ring because I rushed to work. And there were about five senators there. And Akpabio said, ‘Oh Natasha, you are not wearing your ring… is this an invitation to treat?’” She further alleged that Akpabio made sexually charged comments about her marriage. “There was another time he made a statement like, ‘Natasha, your husband is really enjoying. It looks like you’d be able to make good movements with your waist.’” “He makes such sexist statements. And then they (other senators) all laughed,” she added. During the interview, Akpoti-Uduaghan broke down in tears when asked about the impact of her allegations and the backlash she has faced. “People don’t understand what it means to carry this. Maybe we don’t talk about it enough in Nigeria or Africa,” she said, her voice breaking. “I just want a place where I would just work. I thought the worst was over, but I guess for a woman, it’s never really over, right?”