The coalition for democratic women in leadership has frowned at Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for allegedly refusing to go ahead with filing a sexual harassment lawsuit against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to prove her case.

Convener of the coalition, Christina Eden, at a press conference held in Abuja on Wednesday, accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of indulging in what they termed

“weaponisation of gender based advocacy” in a desperate bid to score political goals.

The coalition noted that it is curious that, rather than pursue redress through legal or institutional channels designed to protect women and prosecute offenders, Akpoti-Uduaghan has allegedly sidestepped the path of truth and opted for diversion.

The coalition charged Akpoti-Uduaghan to take a cue from those who were sexually harassed in seeking redress in court rather than dissipate energy chasing shadows.

The coalition called on Akpoti-Uduaghan to, in the name of responsible womanhood, in the interest of girls looking up to female leaders, and in defence of our collective credibility as women in leadership, either pursue the original allegations through the proper legal channels or stop dragging public trust through the mud.

“The drama must end. The shadow-chasing must stop. If she has a case, she should make it. If not, she should let the nation focus on real issues, not recurring personal battles presented as national emergencies,” they noted.

“She has not filed a single sexual harassment lawsuit. Instead, she has launched defamation suits, public battles, and spiralling allegations of assassination plots involving the same Senate President and two governors. It is a pattern: escalation without substantiation. One must ask—where is the endgame? What is the real grievance? Who is truly being protected?

“We recall the recent, painful, yet instructive case of a young female student at Obafemi Awolowo University, who accused a lecturer of sex-for-marks. She did not run to social media for spectacle or rely on public sympathy. She followed due process, made her case, submitted herself to scrutiny, and trusted the justice system. It worked. Her truth was proven. The man was dismissed. That is what sincere advocacy for victims looks like—gritty, quiet, committed to justice, not drama.”

Decrying the unfortunate weaponisation of gender-based advocacy, the coalition was of the view that the trend does not empower women, as it casts doubt on those with genuine stories.

They further noted that the methodology does not protect the vulnerable, adding that it makes advocacy seem like a political stunt, as the more these claims escalate, the more society learns to dismiss real victims.

The coalition insists that Nigeria cannot afford to treat justice like a theatre stage, adding that victims of harassment deserve more, even as the reputation of men must be protected from casual vilification.

They added, “We are disturbed not just by the lack of evidence, but by the refusal to pursue any. The burden of proof is not a tool of oppression—it is the bedrock of fairness. When you accuse someone, especially a high-ranking public figure, of a heinous act, the honourable thing to do is to prove it.

Failing that, public perception becomes distorted. Men in leadership—many of whom support gender equity—begin to grow wary of the mentorship process.

“Young boys, raised to respect women, start to fear that any interaction might be misinterpreted and weaponised. The whole project of gender justice becomes suspect in the eyes of a skeptical society. We must not let that happen.

“We are not here to defend any man, nor to attack any woman. We are here to defend truth, justice, and credibility.

“We insist that advocacy must never become a smokescreen for political vendetta. We are here to say that real victims deserve real action, not public noise.”