The Nigerian Senate has suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, for six months following a contentious dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The suspension, effective March 6, 2025, was based on recommendations from the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions. The committee accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of violating Senate rules and bringing the legislative body into disrepute.
The suspension entails several punitive measures: her salary and those of her legislative aides will be withheld, her office will be locked, and she will be barred from accessing the National Assembly premises.
Additionally, her security details will be withdrawn. The Senate ruled that reconsideration of the suspension would only occur if she submits a formal written apology.
The decision followed a heated altercation during a recent plenary session when Akpoti-Uduaghan protested the reassignment of her seat within the chamber. She arrived to find her nameplate removed and her seat relocated without prior notice.
The controversy escalated when Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Senate President Akpabio of sexual harassment during a live television appearance. She alleged that her treatment in the Senate stemmed from her refusal to comply with inappropriate advances. Akpabio has denied these allegations, describing them as baseless.
During the plenary session where her suspension was debated, Akpoti-Uduaghan was denied an opportunity to speak before a vote was taken. A majority of senators supported the Ethics Committee's recommendation for a six-month suspension. Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro endorsed the disciplinary action, likening it to correcting a child under Nigerian cultural norms.
Akpoti-Uduaghan has described the suspension as unjust and vowed to continue advocating for her constituents despite the penalties imposed on her. She declared that "this injustice will not be sustained" before being escorted out of the chamber by security personnel.
