Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory in the Senate, has come under intense criticism following her comments on the ongoing dispute between her colleague, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The backlash erupted after Kingibe appeared to dismiss concerns raised by Akpoti-Uduaghan, who accused Akpabio of unfair treatment allegedly stemming from her rejection of his purported sexual advances.
The controversy began when Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central, alleged that Akpabio deliberately subjected her to undue hardship within the Senate. She claimed that the decision to reassign her seat was a strategic move aimed at limiting her ability to effectively carry out her legislative duties. The matter escalated during a heated Senate session last week when Akpoti-Uduaghan openly resisted the seat reassignment, prompting a tense standoff. Her refusal to comply led to her being referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for disciplinary action.
Speaking in an interview with Arise TV on Friday, February 28, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan doubled down on her accusations, insisting that the seat reassignment was not an isolated case of administrative restructuring but a targeted action against her. However, in the same interview, Senator Kingibe took a different stance, criticizing her colleague’s refusal to comply with the Senate’s seating regulations. Kingibe suggested that the decision to relocate Akpoti-Uduaghan was not personal but rather a standard legislative practice, downplaying any claims of victimization.
Her remarks quickly triggered outrage, particularly on social media, where many Nigerians expressed disappointment over what they perceived as a lack of solidarity with a fellow female lawmaker facing alleged harassment. Critics accused Kingibe of reinforcing a culture of silence around sexual misconduct in politics, particularly among older female politicians who, they argued, often fail to support younger women navigating power dynamics in male-dominated spaces.
Many social media users pointed out that Akpoti-Uduaghan had previously defended Kingibe in the Senate during her own challenges, making the latter’s perceived dismissal of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s concerns feel like a betrayal. Others argued that Kingibe had missed a crucial opportunity to leverage her influence to advocate for greater protections against gender-based intimidation in Nigerian politics.
The controversy has since reignited discussions on power relations within the country’s legislative arm, the persistent struggles of women in politics, and the broader issue of gender solidarity in governance. While Akpoti-Uduaghan remains at the center of the debate, attention has now also turned to Kingibe’s stance, with many questioning whether her remarks will impact her standing among women’s rights advocates and the wider Nigerian public.
