The Senate has written a letter to the International Parliamentary Union over the claims by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan that she was suspended for accusing the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, of sexual harassment.
The Eagle Online recalls that the representative of Kogi Central Senatorial District during plenary based on the report of a committee.
The committee that recommended her suspension was that of Ethics and Privileges.
Reacting to the position of Akpoti-Uduaghan, who had earlier addressed the ongoing IPU session in New York, United States of America, the Senate explained that she was suspended for the violations of its rules and speaking abusive words to the leadership.
The letter by the Senate to the IPU was read by the Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, who is presently at the event in her official capacity.
The letter, signed by Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, clarified that the actions of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan represented a direct challenge to the authority of the Senate.
Presenting to the position of the Senate at the IPU at a news briefing, Hon. Ogbara said: “Senator Natasha-Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for gross misconduct and unruly behaviour and not as a result of allegation of sexual harassment or assault.
“The authority of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria firmly refutes the deliberate misinformation and false narrative being circulated by certain media organisations regarding the sixth-month suspension of Senator Natsaha-Akpoti-Uduaghan.
“Let it be unequivocally stated that Uduaghan was suspended solely for her persistent act of misconduct and disregard for the Senate Standing Orders.
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“Natasha was suspended over her repeated violations, legislative decorum, including refusing to seat in her assigned seat on the 25th of February, despite multiple pleas from the leadership and other ranking senators, and act of open defiance and disorderly conduct, speaking without being recognised by the Presiding officer in clear violations of parliamentary practices and procedures on the 25th February, 2025.
“Engaging in an unruly behaviour and disturbing the orderly conduct of Senate proceedings, making abusive and disrespectful remarks against the leadership of the Senate, ignoring the summons of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges mandated to investigate the cases of misbehaviour.”
In her earlier presentation to the IPU, Akpoti-Uduaghan had said: “I come with a heavy heart from Nigeria. But first, I’d like to apologise to Honorable Kathila Obara. I am not here to bring shame to our country. I am here to seek help for the women of Nigeria.
“Again, my name is Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Five days ago, on the 6th of March, 2025, I was suspended. As a senator, I was suspended illegally because I submitted a petition of sexual harassment against the president of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
“I thought that by submitting the petition, he would recuse himself and both of us will submit ourselves to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition for a fair and transparent investigation. Unfortunately, I was silenced and I was suspended.
“I was suspended for six months, amongst many other stringent conditions, such as taking away my security and all the officials, vehicles, and other items handed over to me as a senator.
“My salaries would be cut off. I must not appear anywhere near the National Assembly. And for six months, I’m not to introduce myself or present myself as a senator locally in Nigeria or internationally.
“That means I am here illegally. But I have no other place to go but to come here and speak to you women. Because this is a bigger picture. “This is a bigger picture. It depicts the crisis of women’s 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 office holders.
“And in the Senate, it’s just 2.8. We have 109 men, and only four of us are women. So right now, it’s 108 with only three women. This is a clear case of political victimisation, punishment for speaking out against security, corruption, and gender-based violence. The United Nations Declaration 48-104 declares sexual harassment as a form of gender violence.
“The Senate action is an assault on democracy. I was elected by my constituents 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 harassment allegations has been met with hostility instead of accountability.
“If a female senator can be treated this way in the full view of the world, imagine what partners in Nigeria will go through every day, in workplaces and in universities.”
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