***Says Natasha will get their support if she can substantiate her claims
Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the FCT and chairs the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, has addressed the controversy in the face off between the senate president, Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan explaining the internal Senate dynamics and broader gender issues in Nigerian politics.
Kingibe who spoke on Arise Television on Friday, clarified that she spoke on behalf of herself and the other two female senators.
She acknowledged a close bond among the four women but emphasized her mentorship role in guiding Senator Natasha through the Senate’s ranking system.
Regarding the seating arrangement dispute, Kingibe explained that she was at NNPC Hospital that day and only learned about the incident from her driver. She immediately called Natasha to understand what had happened, but Natasha ended the call, saying she would call back—something that never happened.
After unsuccessful attempts to reach Natasha, Kingibe contacted her husband, who informed her that Natasha was in Singapore. Kingibe advised that the situation should be handled differently.
On the perception that the female senators had remained silent, Kingibe stated:
“Silence is golden, especially when one of us is not following the rules.”
She noted that they had hoped to resolve the matter internally rather than escalating it publicly.
Kingibe acknowledged that the Senate has not always been gender-friendly but argued that many of the challenges women face are also experienced by male senators.
“The Senate is more opposition-unfriendly than gender-unfriendly,” she said, adding that most male senators have been supportive of their female colleagues. She also pointed out that, despite claims of unfair treatment, Senator Natasha had received more privileges than the other female senators.
On whether internal conflicts undermine public confidence in the Senate, Kingibe admitted the controversy reflects poorly on the institution.
“The Senate should not be a place where we argue over trivialities like seating arrangements. We should be focusing on issues that impact Nigerians.”
When asked about sexual harassment in the Senate, Kingibe stated that neither she nor the other female senators had experienced such incidents. However, she said that if Senator Natasha had, she would support her—though Natasha had never discussed the issue with them.
She urged women in the Senate to focus on larger legislative battles, such as the 35% inclusion bill for women in governance.
“Distractions like this could weaken our collective efforts to push for meaningful change.”
While the controversy has sparked debates on gender dynamics in Nigerian politics, Kingibe downplayed comparisons to historical moments like Rosa Parks’ stand for civil rights.
“I am not dismissing the possibility of harassment, but Senator Natasha never brought any concerns to the other female senators,” she said.
As the situation unfolds, its impact on gender representation and institutional reforms in the Senate remains to be seen. For now, Kingibe insisted that legislative priorities should take precedence over internal disputes.
