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| Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan making her case in Switzerland |
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central in the Nigerian Senate, has escalated her suspension and allegations of harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Geneva, Switzerland.
She described her six-month suspension as “illegal” and emblematic of the challenges faced by women in Nigeria.
Speaking passionately before the global parliamentary body, Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that her suspension was a retaliatory act following her claims of sexual harassment by Akpabio. She stated that the Senate Ethics Committee dismissed her petition on procedural grounds, further compounding her ordeal.
The suspension, effective March 6, 2025, includes severe penalties: withdrawal of security aides, salary freeze, office closure, and prohibition from the National Assembly premises.
This disciplinary action was linked to a dispute over her Senate seating arrangement, which she argued was an attempt to silence her voice in legislative debates.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only four female senators in Nigeria’s 109-member chamber, first accused Akpabio of making unwanted advances during a television interview on February 28.
She claimed that he tied legislative motions to demands for sexual favors, a charge Akpabio denies.
Despite these setbacks, she vowed to continue serving her constituents and advocating for justice.
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