In 2004, Senator Iyabo Anisulowo was one of Nigeria's most accomplished politicians, an educator who had risen from grassroots activism to national prominence. But none of her glowing accomplishments mattered to her male colleague, Senator Isa Mohammed, when he gave her a "dirty slap" during a heated public dispute over committee funds. The assault might have escalated if others had not intervened.

As chairperson of the Senate Committee on State and Local Government Affairs, Anisulowo outranked her assaulter, who was the deputy chairperson. In her recollection of events published by the BBC, she pointed to gender as the driving force behind the attack.

The incident sparked a media storm. Mohammed blamed the devil, but the Senate suspended him for two weeks and compelled him to issue a public apology on national television. Anisulowo later praised him for his "courage" in doing so.

The assault highlighted the systemic challenges faced by women in elected office, and the struggles for power and respect in a male-dominated environment.

21 Years Later…

In March 2025, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan appeared on ARISE TV and accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment. She laid out a timeline of alleged abuse and disrespect over her refusal to succumb to his unwanted amorous advances. She further claimed that Akpabio orchestrated a change of her seat in the Senate chamber as retaliation, using his political power to undermine her.

The interview provoked widespread debate. Prominent politicians publicly defended Akpabio and dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghan's claims. Several female senators, past and present, including Ireti Kingibe, Biodun Olujimi, Florence Ita-Giwa, and Remi Tinubu, criticised her approach and characterised her accusations as unfounded. Male senators like Opeyemi Bamidele, Solomon Adeola, and Adams Oshiomhole gave the impression of an isolated woman contesting against the sheer machinery of state.

While civil society and advocacy groups supported Akpoti-Uduaghan, other organised groups of protesters staged demonstrations to rebuke her. Eventually, after deliberations, the Senate Ethics Committee decided that while there was no basis to investigate Akpabio’s alleged misconduct, there were grounds to suspend his accuser. During the televised session, senator after senator stood to condemn the accusation and to offer support to Akpabio. In the end, despite pleas to speak and address colleagues again, Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months without pay and then escorted from the chamber, but not before she delivered a promise.

In the weeks since, the senator has escalated her case to the UN Inter-Parliamentary Union and international news platforms. BBC, Deutsche Welle, The Economist, and Foreign Policy have all run stories covering her ordeal. Her situation has reignited discourse on gender, power dynamics, and institutional accountability in Nigerian politics.

From Anisulowo 21 years ago to Akpoti-Uduaghan now, generations of Nigerian women in politics have been silenced, scapegoated, and sacrificed on the altar of fragile male egos. This reality demands reflection: Why is a woman's power still considered dangerous in 2025?

Women of the Political Wild

Since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, women have held less than seven per cent of elective and appointive positions. The challenges begin long before they secure these positions, with barriers to entry at every stage. But even when they scale those hurdles and assume powerful positions, women still encounter systemic mistreatment in office. This reflects in the experiences of Anisulowo and Akpoti-Uduaghan, but they are not alone.

In 2016, Senator Dino Melaye publicly insulted and threatened Senator Remi Tinubu, currently Nigeria's first lady, during a closed-door session of the Senate. Melaye allegedly used derogatory and misogynistic language, including threats to beat and impregnate her. Despite her status as the wife of former Lagos State governor and current president, Bola Tinubu, and her respected position within the ruling party, there were no significant repercussions for Melaye, possibly due to his close ties with Senate President Bukola Saraki. The incident reinforced how even high-profile women in office were not insulated from public humiliation and gendered aggression, and how political affiliations and patronage networks often determine accountability in Nigerian politics.

Beyond verbal confrontations and physical attacks, women in positions of power often endure character assassination designed to undermine their credibility and legitimacy. Unlike their male counterparts, who may be criticised for their policies or political manoeuvres, female politicians are frequently subjected to personal attacks that question their morality and competence.

This feeds into public discourse, which plays a significant role in shaping the perceptions of women in power, with a tendency for the media to focus on their personal lives and social activities rather than their political opinions or policy proposals. Studies have shown that female politicians often receive minimal media attention and are portrayed as "political outsiders" lacking the necessary skills. The initial media coverage following Patricia Etteh’s election as Nigeria's first female speaker of the House of Representatives heavily focused on her background as a hairdresser, questioning her suitability for the role and reinforcing harmful stereotypes.

In general, the private lives of women in office are often hyperscrutinised, with accusations of promiscuity, undue influence from male mentors, or claims that they are merely puppets rather than independent leaders. This culture leaves room for female officeholders to face disproportionate punishment for behaviour that may well be deemed acceptable if exhibited by their male colleagues.

Many Examples Exist...

In 2019, Senator Elisha Abbo was caught on video physically assaulting a woman in a sex toy shop in Abuja. Despite widespread public outrage, he remained in office and continued his political career with minimal consequences. Though a court fined the lawmaker, the Senate took no disciplinary action against him.

Similarly, Bukar Ibrahim, a three-term senator and former governor of Yobe State, was caught on video in a compromising situation with two women in a hotel room. Despite the public scandal and moral outrage, he faced no disciplinary action, remained in office, and defended himself by claiming that his personal life was separate from his political responsibilities.

For more direct comparisons, four months into her reign as speaker, Etteh was forced to resign over allegations of financial misconduct, despite no formal charges or trial. However, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who was convicted of fraud and sentenced to prison in 2019 but was later released based on a technicality, resumed his position in the Senate, and even contested for the position of Senate President.

In 2018, Kemi Adeosun was forced to resign as the Minister of Finance after it was revealed her NYSC exemption certificate was forged. But when Adebayo Shittu was caught in a similar scandal weeks later, he resisted calls to resign as the Minister of Communications, stating that he did not need to participate in the scheme since he had been an elected lawmaker. He finished his tenure in the federal cabinet and was an aspirant for the 2019 Oyo State governorship election.

This culture of selective enforcement, where transgressions can be deservedly career-ending, but only for women and not men, serves as a powerful mechanism for maintaining male dominance within political institutions. The unsuccessful effort to recall Akpoti-Uduaghan only enhanced the perception of powerful state machinery seeking to punish a woman for daring to speak up, no matter how powerful she is. By holding women to higher standards of decorum, the system effectively curtails their political agency.

The Virtue of Resistance

There is a recurring expectation that when women encounter obstacles in political office, they should not respond but take them on the chin and move on. Any attempt to challenge these norms or seek redress is seen as leaning into stereotypes of the "dramatic woman" making a scene and not being "political enough."

This is why Akpoti-Uduaghan's response has been well documented and led to misogynistic calls for women to undergo mental health evaluations before being allowed to serve in public office. She has defied traditional expectations of how female politicians should respond to injustice, embracing a more confrontational and strategic approach that has drawn criticism and garnered widespread support. Unlike many older female politicians who have often advised younger women to endure, keep their heads down, and navigate the system quietly, she has instead challenged these norms head-on.

Unlike her predecessors, Akpoti-Uduaghan has effectively leveraged human rights organisations and international platforms to highlight the systemic challenges faced by women in Nigerian politics. She has also used social media to challenge traditional political norms, garnering support from younger Nigerians who have taken to digital activism. This has amplified her voice and shifted the conversation from traditional power structures to a new, more inclusive platform for political discourse.

From physical assaults to institutional suppression, Nigerian politics has a history of failing to support women in power. And when women are systematically discouraged from participating in politics, nations risk enacting policies that neglect critical issues affecting half their population, such as protections against gender-based violence, which remain weak in many male-dominated governments. This ultimately stifles societal progress, economic growth, and the legitimacy of democratic institutions.

As long as systemic barriers persist, Nigeria will continue to sideline half of its potential. To truly progress, the country must dismantle the culture of gendered power struggles and ensure that women's voices are not only heard but respected in all spheres of leadership.