The camp of Senate President Godswill Akpabio has dismissed claims that he is obligated to appear before the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) over the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the National Assembly.
Akpabio’s media aide, Eseme Eyiboh, made this known during an exclusive interview on Wednesday, insisting that the IPU has no authority to compel the Senate President to testify.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended for six months, had earlier accused Akpabio of sexual harassment and abuse of power. She took her complaint to the IPU, a United Nations agency, calling for international intervention regarding her suspension from the Senate.
Following her submission, the IPU stated that it would need to hear Akpabio’s side before taking a position on the issue. IPU President Tulia Ackson acknowledged Akpoti-Uduaghan’s concerns but noted that both parties must be heard for a fair process.
However, Eyiboh dismissed the IPU’s stance, arguing that the issue is an internal matter of the Nigerian Senate.
“They don’t have the authority to do that. It is an internal affair of the National Assembly. Akpabio can’t be forced to honour an IPU invitation. That is one. Secondly, what she is doing is contemptuous since she was said to have obtained a court order,” he said.
Eyiboh also accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of attempting to damage Nigeria’s image internationally. He questioned why she sought IPU intervention after taking legal action.
“But as I said, she has taken a step to show contempt for the court she went to. Has anybody asked her why she left the court to start heading to the IPU?” he added.
When asked if Akpoti-Uduaghan could face further sanctions for her actions, Eyiboh declined to speculate, saying, “I cannot predict that.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, was suspended on March 6 following a disagreement with the Senate President over a new seating arrangement, which she claimed was designed to undermine her.
The controversy escalated when she publicly accused Akpabio of political victimization, alleging that he targeted her after she rejected his alleged sexual advances. She raised these concerns at the Women in Parliament session during an IPU meeting in New York, where she also complained about the withdrawal of her security, salary cuts, and her suspension from the National Assembly.
Meanwhile, the Senate has denied that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension had anything to do with sexual harassment allegations. Instead, the Senate described her suspension as a response to “gross misconduct” and repeated violations of parliamentary rules.
In a statement issued by Senate Leader Bamidele Opeyemi, the Senate dismissed reports linking her suspension to political victimization.
“Let it be unequivocally stated that Senator Uduaghan was suspended solely for her persistent acts of misconduct, blatant disregard for the provisions of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (As Amended), and gross indiscipline—nothing more, nothing less,” Opeyemi stated.
The Senate explained that the suspension was based on the findings of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges. The committee’s report cited multiple infractions, including refusal to sit in her designated seat, speaking without recognition from the presiding officer, disruptive behavior, and ignoring summons from the Ethics Committee.
According to the Senate, these actions were a direct challenge to its authority, making disciplinary action necessary to maintain order.
Regarding her petition, the Senate clarified that it was dismissed because it did not follow due process. It rejected claims that her suspension was linked to the petition or her allegations against Akpabio.
“Contrary to the false claims being circulated, Senator Uduaghan was NOT suspended for making any sexual harassment allegation or for submitting a petition,” Opeyemi reiterated.
The Senate also criticized media reports on the issue, accusing some outlets of spreading misinformation to politicize the disciplinary action. It urged journalists to report accurately and avoid misleading the public.
“The Senate remains committed to upholding discipline, order, and parliamentary ethics. No senator—regardless of status, gender, or political affiliation—is above the rules of the Senate,” Opeyemi stated.
