- Safiu Kehinde
Suspended Kogi State lawmaker, Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has dragged the Senate and its President, Godswill Akpabio, before the United Nations’ Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) over her suspension.
Recall that Akpoti-Uduaghan was, last week, slammed six months suspension by the Senate as recommended by the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, a s Public Petitions over misconduct and violation of the Red Chamber’s standing order.
The lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, had last month engaged in heated clash with the Senate President over seat arrangement during plenary.
She had accused the Senate leadership of intimidation and discrimination after her seat was changed.
Few days later, Akpoti-Uduaghan would appear on a live interview session on Arise TV where she accused Akpabio of making sexual advances towards her with her rejection marking the beginning of her troubles at the upper legislative chamber.
Speaking at the UN’s Women in Parliament Session in New York United States, Akpoti-Uduaghan recounted how she was suspended after submitting a sexual harrasment petition before the Senate.
As contained in a now viral video shared on social media on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that her suspension was borne out of her petition against the Senate President and an attempt to silence her.
“I come with a heavy heart from Nigeria. But first I will like to apologize to Hon. Kafilat Ogbara. I am not here to bring shame to our country. I’m here to seek help for the women of Nigeria.
“Five days ago, on the 6th of March, 2025, I was suspended illegally because I submitted a petition of sexual harrasment against the President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
“I thought that by submitting the petition, he will recuse himself and both of us will submit ourselves to the committee of ethics, privileges, and public petition for a fair and transparent investigation.
“But unfortunately, I was silenced and was suspended. I was suspended for six months amongst other stringent conditions such as taking away my security; taking away all my official vehicles and other items handed over to me as a Senator.
“My salary was cut off. I must not appear anywhere sense the National Assembly and for six months, I’m not to introduce or present myself as a Senator locally in Nigeria or internationally.” She said.
Emotions weighed in on the Kogi lawmaker as she admitted being at the session illegally on account of her suspension.
She, however, held that that suspension is not just about her but about the systemic exclusion of women from political leadership in Nigeria.
According to her, women make up 3.6 percent of political offices and while im the Senate, it’s just 2.8 percent.
She held that her suspension is a clear case of political victimization, punishment for speaking out against impunity, corruption, and gender-based violence.
Akpoti-Uduaghan stressed further that her suspension is an assault to democracy as she called for fair and transparent investigation into her harrasment allegation which was met with hostility by the Senate instead of accountability.
“That means I’m here illegally and I have no other place to go than to come here and speak to you because this is the bigger picture, it depicts the crisis of women political representation.
“My suspension is not just about me. It’s about the systemic exclusion of women from political leadership in Nigeria. Women make up 3.6 percent of political offices and in the Senate, it’s just 2.8. We have 109 men and only four of us are women.
“Right now it’s 108 with only three women. This is a clear case of political victimization, punishment for speaking out against impunity, corruption, and gender-based violence. The United States declaration 48 (104) declares sexual harassment as a form of gender violence.
“The Senate’s actions are assault to democracy. I was elected by my constituent to represent them. Yet, a few powerful men have unilaterally decided to silence their voices by suspending me for six months.
“My call for an open and transparent investigation into harrasment allegation has been met with hostility instead of accountability. If a female Senator can be treated this way, imagine what ordinary Nigerian women go through everyday.” She added.