Kogi Senator Defiant After ‘Unjust’ Six-Month Senate Suspension
In a bold stance against what she describes as an “unjust suspension,” Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central has declared that her removal from the Nigerian Senate will not diminish her legitimacy as an elected representative.
The senator took to Facebook on Thursday to address her controversial suspension, asserting that the decision “invalidates the principles of natural justice, fairness and equity.”
“Against the culture of silence, intimidation and victim-shaming… the illegal suspension does not withdraw my legitimacy as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Akpoti-Uduaghan wrote. She pledged to “continue to use my duly elected position to serve my constituents and country to the best of my ability till 2027… and beyond.”
The suspension stems from a February 20 incident in which Akpoti-Uduaghan engaged in a heated debate with Senate President Godswill Akpabio regarding seating arrangements. The situation escalated when the senator later accused Akpabio of sexual harassment.
When Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a petition addressing the matter, the senate committee on ethics, privileges, and public petitions dismissed it on technical grounds. Committee Chairman Neda Imaseun declared the petition “dead on arrival,” citing that it was signed by the petitioner herself, which contravenes senate rules.
