Members of Womanifesto, a coalition of over 350 women’s rights advocates, activists and practitioners have unequivocally stated that they unflinchingly stand with the embattled Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In a statement signed by Co-Convener Womanifesto Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, the group said it has watched the shocking move by the Nigerian Senate to suspend the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, amid the grave allegation of sexual harassment which she levelled against the sitting Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The group stated: “It is utterly perturbing that the Senate, especially members of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, do not prioritize the exigency of a sexual harassment allegation against the third most powerful person in Nigeria, has not offered any form of respite, dismissed Senator Natasha’s initial petition, and maintained a posture set against her. Instead, the Senate has shut the door in the face of a possible victim of sexual harassment, setting a dangerous precedent for victims of sexual and gender-based violence across Nigeria.”
The group in the statement, said that two days ago, it released a press statement demanding a public hearing on the sexual harassment allegation against the Senate President, it was however dismayed to watch as the accused in this case, Senate President Godswill Akpabio received the petition against himself, and continued to preside over the Senate despite the allegation.
“Nigerians are left in consternation that the outcome of any investigations by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions will be predictably unjust. The announced 6 months suspension includes the unhinged declaration that she must not be seen in and around the Senate, and her security details stripped off. Womanifesto wonders how, and the integrity of, investigations would be carried out in the absence of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan,” said the group.
Womanifesto further said that the rules of the senate, and legal precedent, clearly shows that a Senator cannot be suspended for more than 14 days.
This unjustifiable suspension, said the group, denies her constituents access to representation in the Senate.
The group stated that there was also an existing court order restraining the Senate from carrying out disciplinary action against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The group held: “It is expected that a responsible leadership would obey, and argue their position on the legitimacy of the order before the court. The blatant disregard and dismissal of an existing court order pparadethe parliament as one with disdain for the rule of law. The red chambers must protect the integrity of our democracy.”
Womanifesto thereafter demands that: Senator Godswill Akpabio step down as Senate President for the period of the investigation against him, and he Senate publishes its House rules on Sexual harassment and assault. In the absence of such existing rules, the House must urgently begin the process of establishing clear rules of engagement, reporting and investigation of sexual and gender-based violence within the National Assembly.
It further demanded that the draconian suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan be lifted immediately, to allow her full access to justice and protect the interests of her constituents.
It stressed: “This is a crucial moment in the advocacy against sexual and gender-based violence. The Senate must be seen and perceived to be fair, just, and against sexual harassment of Nigerian women and girls in words and actions.”
Members of the group are listed below:
Enough is Enough
Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC)
She Forum Africa
Alliances for Africa (AFA)
9jafeminista
Above Whispers Foundation
Action Aid Nigeria
ACTS Generation GBV
Ade Grange Child Foundation
ADEM Community Human Development Foundation
Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF)
Advocate for Health and Development Initiative
African Women’s Initiative (AWI)
Ajegunle Community Project
Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation
Alliances for Africa (AfA)
Amazing Grace Inspirations
Aminchi Women Cooperative Society
Amnesty International Nigeria
ARDA Development Communication Inc.
Arise Nigerian Woman Foundation
ASWAN
ATATA Development and Empowerment Foundation (ADEF)
Affirmative Action Initiative for Women (NCAA)
Association of Nigeria Women’s Business Network (ANWBN)
Association of Women in Trade and Agriculture (AWITA)
Association Against Women Exploitation and Degradation (AAWED)
Amaclare Connect and Development Initiative
AWEP
ANWIBAWFAN
FEBWE
FEDAN
BLECCA Foundation
Bring Back Our Girls
Briskila Emefesi Women Foundation (BEWOF)
Baobab for Women’s Human Rights
Cece Yara Foundation
Cedar Seed Foundation
CEE-HOPE Nigeria
Center for Economic Empowerment and Gender Activities (CEEGA)
Centre for Alternative Development and Self-Enhancement (CEADESE NG)
Centre for Health and Development in Africa (CHEDA)
Centre for Nonviolence and Gender Advocacy in Nigeria (CENGAIN)
Centre for Peace Education and Community Development
Centre for Women’s Health and Information (CEWHIN)
Change Managers International Network
Civil Resource Development and Documentation Center (CIRDDOC)
Citizenship and Human Development Initiative
Charity Women Spring of Salvation
Chedal Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society
Child Care and Adult Protection Initiative (CCAPI)
Choung-Dung Women Association
Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment in Nigerian Society (CWEENS)
Christian Women in Nigerian Politics
Citizens Center for Integrated Development and Social Rights (CCIDESOR)
Community and Youth Development
Community Education Advancement of Peace and Development Initiative (CEAPDI)
Community Initiative for Ha ealthy and Peaceful Society
Community Life Project (CLP)
Community Rescue Initiative (CRI)
Community Women Initiatives (CWI)
Country Associates Network (CAN)
Courageous People Health and Development Initiative (CPHDL)
Crestville Development Foundation (CDF)
CWEMA
Daria Media Foundation (DMF)
Development in Practice Gender and Entrepreneurial Initiative (DIPGEI)
Diaspora Womanifesto2019
Dinidari Foundation (DF)
Dorothy Njemanze Foundation (DNF)
Dream Alive Women and Orphans Support Foundation (DAWOS Foundation)
Echoes of Women in Africa Initiatives
Edo Women’s Development Initiative
Education As A Vaccine (EVA)
EiE Nigeria
Emerge Women (EW)
Empowerment and Action Research Centre (EARC)
Equality Through Education Foundation (ETEF)
Equity Advocates/ The Woman Today Newspaper
FACICP Disability Plus
FAME Foundation
Federation of Informal Workers of Nigeria (FIWON)
Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN)
Federation of Paralegal Network (FEDPAN)
Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA)
Fembridge Development Initiative (FEDI)
FIDA Nigeria
First Future Leadership
FOMWAN
Forward in Action for Education, Poverty and Malnutrition (FACE-PAM)
FRED
FEDAN
Gender Action Awareness Trust
Gender and Constitution Reform Network (GECORN)
Gender and Development Action (GADA)
Gender and Environmental Risk Reduction Initiative (GERI)
Gender Awareness Trust (GAT)
Gender Development Initiative
Gender Equality Center
Gender Equality, Peace and Development Centre
Gender Technical Unit (GTU)
Gender Strategy Advancement International (GSAI)
Girl Child Advocacy and Education Initiatives
Girl Child Africa
Girl Child Education, Care & Rehabilitation
Girl Education Rehabilitation and Care (GERAC)
Girls Power Initiative (GPI)
Global Hope for Women and Children Foundation (GLOHWOC)
Green Spring Development Initiative
Gender Awareness Trust (GAT)
Gender and Constitution Reform Network (GECORN)
Habiba Dangana (Hadis) Foundation
Heal Disability Initiative
Health Education and Human Rights Advocacy Initiative
Health Reform Foundation Of Nigeria (HERFON)
HEIR Women Development (HWD)
Help Initiative for Social Justice & Humanitarian Development
Hope for New Life (HNL)
International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria
Initiative for Research, Innovation and Advocacy in Development (IRIAD)
Inter Africa Committee (IAC)
Inter Gender Peace Foundation (IGPF)
International Action Network on Small Arms Women Network (IANSA)
International Federation of Women Lawyers (Fida Nigeria)
International Hairstylists, Barbers and Body Therapists (IHSTOBAN)
International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH)
International Women Communication Centre (IRIAD)
Iyaniwura Children Care Foundation (ICCF)
Jamatul Nasir Islam, Women Wing
Jana Health Foundation (JHF)
Julie Oyegun Foundation
Foundation for Justice Development and Peace (FJDP)
Justice Development and Peace Mission (JDPM)
KMashi Gamji Women
Kebetkache Women Development And Resources Centre
Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND)
Kungiyar Tallafin Mata Development Initiative (KTMDI)
League of Queens International Empowerment (LQIE)
League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV)
LEDAP
Lift Initiative
League of Queens International Empowerment
Legislative Advocacy Coalition on Violence Against Women Initiative (LACVAW)
MBULA Women Association Media &Teens Network
Media Concern Initiative for Women and Children
Media Concern Initiative (MediaCon) for Women and Children MODAC
Mothers United and Mobilised (MUMs) More Women in Politics
My Voice My Future NGO
Nasrul – Lahi-L- Faith Society (NASFAT) NAWENEWW NAWORG
Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) National Centre for Women Development
National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) NECA’s Network of Entrepreneurial Women Neighbourhood Care-Well Foundation
Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria, NRHJN Next Initiative for Gender Actions (NIGA)NEWSA
NGAS Women Farmers’ Cooperative Society Nigeria Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ) Nigeria For Women Project
Nigeria Labour Congress, Women Committee Nigerian Express
Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NTWF)
Ogayem Merciful Care and Support Initiatives (OMCSI) Ogun Women Alive
Okwuzi Women Forum
Olive Community Development Initiatives Onomese Foundation
Open Arms Initiative for Sustainable Development (OPAISD) Osi Joe Touching Lives Initiative
Ovie Brume Foundation Partners West Africa Peasant Dragnet
Princess Olufemi-Kayode Proactive Gender Initiative (PGI)
Project Alert on Violence Against Women Ray of Hope Community Foundation Relief Development Initiative Kaduna
Responsible Citizenship and Human Development Initiative Sesor Empowerment Foundation
She Forum Africa Safe Space Initiative
Save a Child Lend a Hand Foundation Sheforshe Africa Initiative
She Mentors Initiative Shout Global Health
Small-scale Women Farmers Organization of Nigeria (SWOFON) South- South Professional Women Association.
Stand to End Rape (STER)
Stephanie Peace Building Development Foundation
Support For Needy Children and Women Initiative (SUNCHI) TechHerNG
THR Media
The Inclusion Project (TIP)
The Priceless Jewels Foundation
THR Media – HERFESSIONS INITIATIVE
Tonia Bruised but Not Broken Foundation Transformation and Development Center (TDC) Transition Monitoring Group
Tunde & Friends Foundation (TAFF) UC Women Commission
UTO Foundation
Vision Spring Initiatives (VSI) Voice of Ogun Women (VOW) West African Network for Peace WWE NETWORK AFRIQUE WEPDN
Widows Development Organization (WIDO) Woman-Being Concern Nigeria (WBC) Women’s Leadership Group (WLG)
Women &Youth Awareness Empowerment Network (WOYAEN) Women Advocacy, HIV Prevention and Other Diseases (WAHPOD) Women AT Risk International Foundation(WARIF)
Women Aid Collective (WACOL)
Women in Mining
Women and Youth Empowerment for Advancement and Health Initiative Women Youth and Children Upliftment Foundation (WYCUT)
Women Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON)
Women education advocacy and development Initiatives (WEADI) Women Empowerment and Initiative Development
Women Empowerment and Reproductive Health Centre (WERHC)
Women Empowerment Education and Peace Building Initiative (WEPBI) Women Environmental Programme (WEP)
Women Farmers Alliance (WFA)
Women for Peace and Gender Equality Initiative (WOPEGEE) Women for Women International (W4WI)
Women Foundation Initiative (WFI) Women Foundation of Nigeria (WFN)
Women in Action for Positive Development and Gender Enhancement Center (WAPGADEC) Former Women Action Organization (WAO)
Women in Africa Initiative (WIAI)
Women in Agriculture (WIA)
Women in Mining (WIM)
Women Information Network (WINET)
Women Initiative for Democracy and Empowerment (WIDE) Women Law and Development Initiative (WOLDI)
Women Law Development Center of Nigeria (WLDCN) Women Lead Agric (WLA)
Women League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) Women of Vision Development Initiative Women Protection Organization (WOPO)
Women Wing of The Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN) Women, Infants and Children Care Initiative (WICCI)
Women, Youths and Children Advancement Program Women Optimum Development Foundation-WODEF Women Right to Education Programme (WREP) Women’s Crisis Centre Owerri
Women’s Rights and Health Project
Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP) Working Moms Africa (WMA)
Feminist Womanifesto
Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) Women Initiative on Climate Change
Women in Management Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) WISCAR
Women Democracy Network Africa – Nigeria WomenPreneurs (AWEBO)
Yiaga Africa
Youth Future Savers Initiative (YFSI) Zonta International Club of Lagos 1 50MAWSP.
