THE SUSPENSION of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Nigerian Senate has drawn international scrutiny, with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) stepping in to examine the circumstances surrounding her removal. The controversy, which has sparked debates on gender representation, political victimisation, and democratic accountability, has now become a test case for Nigeria’s legislative integrity on the global stage.
The Explainer reported that Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, took her case to the IPU assembly at the United Nations headquarters in New York, alleging that her six-month suspension was unlawful and designed to silence her. She linked the Senate’s decision to a petition she submitted against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, accusing him of sexual harassment.
“I believed that submitting the petition would lead to a fair and transparent investigation, but instead, I was silenced and suspended,” she told the assembly.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of the few female senators in Nigeria, described the suspension as part of a broader systemic effort to exclude women from leadership positions. She called on global democratic institutions to intervene, warning that the case symbolised the challenges women face in Nigerian politics and society.
The Explainer reported that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension took effect on 6 March 2025, following a report from the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, presented by its Chairman, Senator Neda Imasuen. The committee’s report formed the basis for her removal from legislative activities.
However, Akpoti-Uduaghan insists that the process was politically motivated. She detailed the consequences of her suspension, which include:
Withdrawal of security personnel assigned to her as a senator., Seizure of official vehicles and other legislative entitlements., Complete salary stoppage for the duration of her suspension., Banning her from the National Assembly premises and barring her from engaging in any senatorial activities locally or internationally.
“For six months, I am not allowed to present myself as a senator, either locally or internationally,” she stated.
Her suspension has been widely debated within Nigeria, with some believing it was an act of political retaliation. The timing has also raised questions, as her petition against Akpabio was reportedly submitted just minutes before her suspension was announced.
However, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele refuted claims that her suspension was linked to the sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio. According to Bamidele, the disciplinary action was due to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s violation of Senate Standing Rules and her alleged refusal to adhere to sitting arrangements during a 20 February plenary session.
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Despite this explanation, Akpoti-Uduaghan argues that the decision to suspend her was a direct attempt to suppress female voices in politics.
The Explainer gathered that Akpoti-Uduaghan used her speech at the IPU to highlight the stark gender imbalance in Nigeria’s political landscape.
“This is a bigger picture. It depicts the crisis of women’s political representation. My suspension is not just about me. It is about the systematic exclusion of women from political leadership in Nigeria,” she said.
According to data on gender representation in Nigeria: “Women hold only 3.6% of political offices nationwide. In the Nigerian Senate, women make up just 2.8%. Out of 109 senators, only four are women. With my suspension, it is now 108 men and only three women,” she noted.
Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that if a sitting female senator could face such punitive measures, ordinary Nigerian women in workplaces and universities were even more vulnerable to discrimination and harassment.
“If a female senator can be treated this way in the full view of the world, imagine what ordinary women go through every day, in workplaces, in universities,” she said.
She further referenced the United Nations Declaration 48-104, which classifies sexual harassment as a form of gender-based violence, stressing that her case was a test of Nigeria’s commitment to democratic and gender rights.
Following Akpoti-Uduaghan’s appeal, IPU President Tulia Ackson acknowledged the concerns raised and assured that the IPU would investigate the matter thoroughly while ensuring due process.
“We have heard her concerns, and as an institution, we will be taking the necessary steps,” Ackson stated. “However, it is important that we also listen to the other side before making any decisions, as is our custom at the IPU.”
Ackson also noted that a Nigerian delegate present at the session had sought to respond to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims but was unable to speak due to time constraints.
“So we have taken the concerns that she raised, and we will be working on them, of course, having listened to the other side, and we will be able to take steps after that,” Ackson assured.
The Explainer gathered that the IPU’s intervention marks a significant international development, as the organisation is a global coalition of national parliaments committed to democracy, peace, and sustainable development through parliamentary diplomacy.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s decision to take her case to an international forum could lead to increased diplomatic pressure on Nigeria’s Senate. The Explainer observed that her allegations against Akpabio, who is a member of the executive committee of the IPU, add a complex layer to the case, as international scrutiny could intensify.
Her speech has already gained traction among gender equality and democracy activists, who argue that the case represents a broader issue of political suppression.
The Explainer gathered that Akpoti-Uduaghan remains resolute in her stance, insisting that her case must be addressed to protect democracy and women’s rights in Nigeria.
“The Senate’s action is an assault on democracy. I was elected by my constituents to represent them, yet a few powerful men have unilaterally decided to silence my voice by suspending me for six months,” she stated.
She reiterated that she had no choice but to seek international intervention.
“I am here illegally, and I have no other place to go but to come here and speak to you,” she told the IPU assembly.
As the IPU reviews the case, analysts believe the outcome could set a precedent for how international organisations respond to parliamentary disputes. If the IPU takes a strong stance, it could force the Nigerian Senate to reconsider its decision, or at the very least, spark a wider debate on the treatment of women in Nigerian politics.
For now, the global parliamentary body’s commitment to hearing both sides suggests that further developments are expected as the investigation unfolds.
