Senator Natasha Takes Senate Battle to the UN

Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has taken her dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio to the international stage by presenting her case at a United Nations forum.

The senator was suspended on March 6 following a heated confrontation with Akpabio over a new seating arrangement in the Senate, which she claimed was intended to undermine her position.

Tensions escalated when Akpoti-Uduaghan publicly accused Akpabio of retaliating against her for rejecting his alleged sexual advances.

Speaking at the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting in New York, Akpoti-Uduaghan called for international intervention to hold the Nigerian Senate accountable, asserting that she faced political victimization and intimidation for demanding a transparent investigation into her allegations.

Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasized that her suspension was illegal and part of a broader effort to silence her. She refused to apologize, describing the situation as an attempt by powerful figures to suppress her voice.

She vowed to continue her fight against what she termed injustice upon her return, stating that she would re-present her petition on sexual harassment until a fair investigation is conducted.

Akpoti-Uduaghan's appeal to the international community highlighted the need for global support to protect women's rights and political inclusion in Nigeria.

She pledged to work with women's groups and civil society organizations to ensure that her suspension is overturned, emphasizing that her case is not just about her but about ensuring that no other woman in public office is silenced again.

The Nigerian Senate has maintained that Akpoti-Uduaghan's suspension is a disciplinary measure unrelated to her allegations of sexual harassment, citing breaches of Senate Standing Orders as the reason for her suspension.