During its executive session on Wednesday, the Nigerian Senate upheld the six-month suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended last Thursday for allegedly violating the Senate Standing Rules. Her suspension folloewed accusations she made against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, alleging sexual harassment.
The Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions recommended the suspension, which includes halting her salary, allowances, and those of her legislative aides, along with the withdrawal of her security escorts.
According to SaharaReporters, during Wednesday’s session, Senators Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central, APC) and Abdul Ahmed Ningi (Bauchi Central, PDP) suggested forming a committee to address the matter and proposed a vote of confidence in Akpabio.
However, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC) opposed the idea, arguing that creating a committee would portray the Senate as weak if the suspension were reversed.
A Senate source revealed, “Goje, Ningi, and Dickson were against the suspension. Goje and Ningi proposed setting up a committee to resolve the Natasha issue and to conduct a vote of confidence in Akpabio. However, Oshiomhole opposed any committee, saying it would make the Senate look weak if they backed down.”
Senator Victor Umeh of the Labour Party also supported Akpabio and went further by proposing a Senate vote of confidence in him. “Victor Umeh of LP also supported Akpabio and went as far as proposing a Senate vote of confidence,” the source added.
Ultimately, the session concluded with the decision to let Senator Natasha serve her full suspension, effective from March 6, 2025.
The deliberations came a day after Akpoti-Uduaghan reported her suspension and her case against Senate President Akpabio to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), a global body for national parliaments with 181 member countries.
Speaking at the IPU, the Kogi Central lawmaker described the Senate’s actions as “illegal” and reflective of the struggles women face in Nigeria.
“I am not here to bring shame to my country; I am here to bring help to the women of our country,” she said.
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She further stated, “On March 6, I was suspended as a Senator—illegally—because I submitted a petition of sexual harassment against the President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio. I believed that by submitting the petition, he would recuse himself, and both of us would submit to a fair and transparent investigation by the committee on ethics. Unfortunately, I was silenced and suspended.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan outlined the terms of her suspension, saying, “I was suspended for six months under stringent conditions: my security detail was withdrawn, all officials working closely with me as a Senator were removed, my salary was cut off, I was barred from appearing anywhere near the National Assembly, and for six months, I was prohibited from introducing myself as a Senator.”
She added, “Whether locally in Nigeria or internationally, that would imply that I am here illegally. But I have nowhere else to turn except to speak before you all, because this situation illustrates the reality of women’s rights in political representation. My suspension is not just about me—women make up only 2.8% of the Senate. Out of 109 senators, only four of us are women.”
“My call for an open investigation into harassment has been met with hostility instead of accountability, in full view of the world. Imagine what ordinary Nigerians face every day,” she said.
IPU President Tulia Ackson responded, stating that appropriate steps would be taken regarding Natasha’s case but only after hearing the other side.
SaharaReporters previously reported that after her initial petition against Akpabio was rejected, Akpoti-Uduaghan resubmitted it, this time signed by Azamariya Mariya, a member of her constituency.
In her petition, she accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, abuse of office, and obstruction of her legislative duties. She emphasized that the matter was not pending in any Nigerian court, arguing that it was within the Senate’s jurisdiction to address.
The petition was referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for review, but this was followed by her six-month suspension—a move criticized as an abuse of power.
Before the suspension, Senator Neda Imasuen, chairman of the committee, stated that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s actions had brought the Senate and its presiding officer into disrepute.
“For the Senate to consider lifting the suspension or to reduce the tenure, Senator Natasha shall submit a written apology before reconsideration by the Senate,” the committee’s recommendation read.
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