Former Minister of Education and human rights advocate, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has strongly criticized the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, over what she described as a pattern of disrespect and humiliation of female lawmakers in the Nigerian Senate.
In a statement posted on her X (formerly Twitter) handle, Ezekwesili reaffirmed her earlier stance that judicial failures had enabled Akpabio’s rise to Senate leadership, arguing that a functional judiciary would not have permitted him to preside over the upper legislative chamber.
Ezekwesili pointed to multiple instances where female lawmakers, particularly Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senator Ireti Kingibe, had allegedly been disrespected by Akpabio. She described this trend as part of a broader issue of gender discrimination in Nigeria’s public leadership, emphasizing that women should not have to endure such treatment to fulfill their democratic mandate.
“One issue stands out. Mr. Akpabio implicitly thinks that his even more accomplished female colleagues must be humiliated in order for his ego to be assuaged,” Ezekwesili stated.
She further questioned why female senators were repeatedly at the receiving end of what she described as the “appalling misconduct” of the Senate President.
Backing her statement with data on global gender representation, Ezekwesili shared images highlighting Nigeria’s dismal ranking in women’s political leadership. According to the statistics, Nigeria ranks among the lowest globally in female representation in the legislature, with women occupying a mere 4.4% of parliamentary seats.
This, she argued, was a national embarrassment, especially for a country with a large, diverse, and highly educated female population. She cited evidence from international reports demonstrating that gender-inclusive leadership leads to better governance and economic progress.
“And we wonder why Nigeria shamefully places at the lowest neighborhood of the ranking of countries on women in public leadership, specifically Legislature at 4.4%,” she remarked.
Despite the hostile political environment, Ezekwesili urged female leaders not to be silenced. She encouraged them to remain committed to their legislative duties, standing firm in their representation of the people.
“I encourage the women in public leadership to never ever lose their voice. Continue to stand strong in your commitment to citizens and prove that representation matters.”
She emphasized that data overwhelmingly supports the importance of representation, showing that when more women are in leadership positions, governance improves, policies become more inclusive, and national development accelerates.
Ezekwesili ended her remarks with a direct warning to Akpabio, stating that any further attempts to undermine or harass female lawmakers would not go unchallenged.
“Next time Mr. Akpabio harasses any woman well-elected—unlike him—and representing her constituency at the National Assembly, or any woman at all anywhere in this country, he must get ready.”
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Ezekwesili’s statement has sparked renewed discussions on gender equity in Nigerian politics, with many Nigerians calling for greater inclusion and protection of female lawmakers from political intimidation. Critics of Akpabio argue that his leadership has failed to promote an inclusive and respectful Senate, while his supporters insist that the allegations are politically motivated.As the debate continues, Ezekwesili’s remarks have placed the issue of gender representation and political respect for female leaders at the center of Nigeria’s democratic discourse.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, advocacy for women’s participation in leadership is expected to intensify. Whether Ezekwesili’s call will lead to tangible political shifts remains to be seen, but it has undeniably added momentum to the ongoing debate on gender inclusion in Nigerian politics
