The Nigerian Senate has denied claims that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended due to her allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio ¹. The Senate’s clarification came in response to a petition Akpoti-Uduaghan submitted to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), a global body that promotes peace, democracy, and parliamentary cooperation.
According to a statement read by Kafilat Ogbara, a House of Representatives member and Nigeria’s delegate to the IPU, Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for “gross misconduct and unruly behavior,” not for her allegations against Akpabio ¹. The Senate emphasized that her suspension was a result of her disregard for the Senate Standing Orders 2023, as amended.
The Senate also accused media outlets of spreading “deliberate misinformation” about the suspension, stating that reports suggesting political retaliation were “completely untrue, misleading, and a calculated attempt to distort the facts” ¹.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension followed a heated dispute over her seating arrangement in the Senate chamber, which escalated into a confrontation with Akpabio. However, she maintains that her removal was an orchestrated effort to silence her, citing gender-based discrimination and abuse of power.
The controversy has drawn significant public and international attention, with many closely watching how the IPU will respond to the escalating tensions within Nigeria’s legislative body.
