When the third most powerful politician in Nigeria was charged with sexual harassment on national television this year, a fierce return followed – against his accuser.

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of four women in the Nigerian Senate of 109 seats, was suspended for six months without a salary in February. She said the suspension of speech was a speech against Godswill Akpabio, president of the Nigerian Senate.

Then the angry voters in their constituency in Central Nigeria began a campaign to remove it.

The weapon emphasized what women in Nigeria say that sexism faced by women’s politicians in their country and the risks of speaking in a nation where few women have political power.

Nigeria is the most powerful nation of Africa and the second largest economy of Subsahar Africa, but has the lowest representation of women in the parliament on the continent. This is located at the bottom of five globally.

With a written response sent by a lawyer, Mr Akpabio rejected Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s charges and rejected an interview request, citing continuing legal proceedings.

“First, it is at that level in Nigeria,” said Obiageli Ezekwesili, a former Nigerian Minister of Education, about charges against such a senior official. “But it’s a classic abuse of power, where a woman has been denied the right to hear,” she added.

Ms. Hotel – 45, who was elected in 2023, he said that Mr. Akpabio had made sexual progress in December that year when she and her husband visited Mr. Akpabija’s home. Mr Akpabio squeezed his hand and told her, “I will make us the opportunity to come here and a good moment,” she said.

Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan said that Mr. Akpabio had invited her to the hotel and made casual remarks in the Senate building, including: “” You can enjoy many advantages if you make me happy. “

In an interview with the New York Times, Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan said she had rejected progress but did not talk about them or filed a legal appeal.

“The moment you talk about sexual harassment, you’re guilty,” she said. Through her two senatorial campaigns in 2018 and 2022, Mrs. Akpoti-Uduughan is facing Repeated internet harassment and accusations of being a prostitute. Such accusations are usually equated against women in Nigerian politics.

“We are forced to endure it, to see it as part of life,” she added.

Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan said that last year she began to avoid a cafeteria of the Senate and other areas of the building where she could come across Mr. Akpabioa, just to avoid his sexual progress.

In February, Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan said that her place had been moved to the distant corner of the Senate without her consent and that she was not told why. She came out with her accusations against Mr. Akpabija on Nigerian television later that month.

For days after she went public, the Senate Ethics Committee suspended Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months, accusing her of rude behavior during a dispute over a new sitting arrangement. She also rejected the plea for the sexual harassment she filed against Mr. Akpabija, citing the rule forbidden by the victims to file their own appeals. (The petition must bear someone else on behalf of the victim.)

Since the suspension, Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan has not received public support from her three peers. Mr. Akpabija’s wife filed a defamation lawsuit.

“Women are part of the same system of patronage as men in Nigerian politics,” said Ayomide Ladipo, a Nigerian analyst. “Speaking against a powerful man with a lot of resources and political influence, you risk being on a black list or sacrifice.”

Mr. Akpabio, 62, is a close ally of Bol Ahmed Tinubu, President of Nigeria and the Congress Leader who manages all the advancements. Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan is a member of the Democratic Party of the opposition.

Another public officer, Joy Nunieh, accused Mr. Akpabija of sexual harassment in 2020. Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atik Abubakar, the opponent of Mr. Akpabija, said Had “the habit of abusing women.”

Thousands of supporters gathered on Tuesday when Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan made a makeshift visit to her district in the center of Koga. But even in the Kogi Central, almost half of all registered voters last week signed a petition by invoking its removal, except that only a 50 -pointed threshold needed to pull it out.

No major political party has ever appointed a woman as a presidential candidate in Nigeria. The share of female MPs is below 10 percent, according to Invictus Africaa non -profit organization.

Other economic powers on the continent have greater representation of women in politics. There are a quarter of a woman in Kenya. This rate reaches 40 percent in Senegal and almost 50 percent in South Africa. Rwanda has the highest rate of MPs in the world, 61 percent.

They all implemented quota systems in a property. Nigeria is not.

“Men make you feel like sitting in a Senate is a privilege,” Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan said. “I earned my place. The hostile environment returned our democracy to women.”

Pius Adeleye contributed to the reporting from Eket, Nigeria.