Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended from the Nigerian Senate, has taken her case to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting at the United Nations in New York. She is calling for international intervention, claiming her suspension was unlawful and politically motivated.
At the Women in Parliament Session during the IPU meeting, Senator Natasha urged global democratic institutions to intervene in what she describes as an attack on democracy and women’s participation in politics. She alleged that her removal from the Senate was a form of victimization for speaking out against injustice.
The controversy began after a heated exchange between Senator Natasha and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, which led to her suspension. She had accused Akpabio of sexual harassment and later submitted a petition seeking an investigation into the matter. However, instead of an inquiry, she was suspended for six months, a decision she believes was aimed at silencing her.
In a video obtained by Vanguard, Senator Natasha was seen crying while presenting her case at the global event. She expressed concerns about her safety, claiming that there were indications she could be detained in New York for speaking on the issue.
Her words: “I come with a heavy heart from Nigeria. But first, I’d like to apologise to honourable… I’m not here to bring shame to our country. I’m here to seek help for the women of Nigeria.
“Five days ago, on the 6th of March, 2025, 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 thought that by submitting the petition, he would recuse himself and both of us would submit ourselves to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petition for a fair and transparent investigation, but unfortunately, I was silenced and I was suspended.
“I was suspended for six months amongst many other stringent conditions such as taking away my security, taking away all the official vehicles and other items that were handed over to me as a senator. My salaries will be cut off. I must not appear anywhere near the National Assembly, and for six months, I’m not to introduce or present myself as a senator locally in Nigeria or internationally.
“That means I’m here illegally, but I have no other place to go but to come here and speak to you women because this is a bigger picture. It depicts the crisis of women in political representation. My suspension is not just about me—it’s about the systemic exclusion of women from political leadership in Nigeria. This is a clear case of political victimisation, punishment for speaking out against impunity, corruption, and gender-based violence.
“The Senate’s actions are an assault on democracy. I was elected by my constituents to represent them, yet a few powerful men have unilaterally decided to silence their voices by suspending me for six months. My call for an open and transparent investigation into harassment allegations has been met with hostility instead of accountability.
“If a female senator can be treated this way in the full view of the world, imagine what ordinary Nigerian women go through every day in workplaces, universities.”
