Any Woman Who Unfoundedly Accuses a Man Should Be Condemned – Senator Nwebonyi

Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, representing Ebonyi North and serving as Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, has called on women in politics to show greater respect to their male counterparts. Speaking during an empowerment event at the Abakaliki Local Government headquarters on Wednesday, April 23, the senator expressed concern over what he described as a growing trend of disrespectful behavior by some women in politics.

Without naming specific individuals, Nwebonyi warned that such conduct could harm the progress of women in Nigeria’s political landscape. “I am one of those championing the emancipation of women in politics. But that does not mean that the rights and dignity of men should be undermined,” he said.

He added, “In any situation where a woman unfoundedly accuses a man, it should be condemned. Telling a man to ‘shut up’ in the Senate or anywhere else is unacceptable. We must support and respect our mothers, but those not with us should be shown the way out of power and politics.”

Nwebonyi’s remarks come amid a public rift with Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central, who has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment. During a Senate hearing on the matter, Nwebonyi clashed with former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, who supported Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Akpoti-Uduaghan has since filed a N5 billion defamation lawsuit against Nwebonyi over comments he made during a March 6, 2025 appearance on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily. In the interview, he referred to her as a “gold digger,” “habitual liar,” and “habitual blackmailer”—claims she has strongly denied, calling them false, malicious, and defamatory.