Former presidential adviser and senator, Florence Ita-Giwa, has dismissed the sexual harassment claim made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan recently accused Akpabio of blocking her motions about the Ajaokuta Steel Company in Kogi State because she allegedly rejected his sexual advances. She made this statement during a live interview on Arise TV on March 4, 2025.

In response, Ita-Giwa said female senators cannot be sexually harassed once they are elected. According to her, winning an election to become a senator shows strength and independence, making women equal to their male colleagues.

“When you get to the Senate, you are there as a person, not as a woman,” Ita-Giwa said. She added that raising sexual harassment complaints publicly shows weakness and discourages women from standing strong in politics.

However, Ita-Giwa made it clear she was not calling Akpoti-Uduaghan a liar. Instead, she emphasized that women in politics should focus on their roles and avoid public accusations against male colleagues.

Her comments have sparked a debate on how women are treated in Nigerian politics and how future claims of sexual harassment will be handled.