Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has taken her grievances against Senate President Godswill Akpabio to the international stage, seeking intervention from global democratic institutions.
Speaking at the Women in Parliament session during the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting at the United Nations in New York, Akpoti-Uduaghan condemned what she described as her unlawful suspension from the Nigerian Senate. She warned that powerful figures in the country might attempt to detain her for speaking out.
Her suspension stemmed from a heated confrontation with Akpabio over a new Senate seating arrangement, which she claimed was deliberately altered to undermine her. The clash escalated when Akpabio refused to recognize her during plenary because she was not speaking from the newly assigned seat.
The situation further intensified when Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio on national television of punishing her for rejecting his alleged sexual advances. She has since submitted a formal petition alleging sexual harassment by the Senate President.
Her move to escalate the issue to the UN has sparked fresh debates over gender rights, political power struggles, and accountability within Nigeria’s legislative system. The case continues to draw national and international attention as calls for justice grow.
