Nigerian Senate Denies Suspension of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Over Sexual Harassment Allegation
The Nigerian Senate has refuted claims that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended due to her sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The clarification came in response to a petition Akpoti-Uduaghan submitted to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), a global body that fosters peace, democracy, and parliamentary cooperation worldwide.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, accused Akpabio of sexual harassment and claimed her suspension on March 6, 2025, was a direct retaliation. However, the Senate insists her six-month suspension was solely for “gross misconduct and unruly behavior.”
Addressing the IPU Assembly in New York on Tuesday, Kafilat Ogbara—a House of Representatives member and Nigeria’s delegate—read a statement signed by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele. The letter strongly dismissed any link between the senator’s suspension and her allegations against Akpabio.
“Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for gross misconduct and blatant disregard for the Senate Standing Orders 2023, as amended. It had nothing to do with allegations of sexual harassment or assault,” the statement read.
The Senate also accused media outlets of spreading “deliberate misinformation” about the suspension, stating that reports falsely suggesting political retaliation were “completely untrue, misleading, and a calculated attempt to distort the facts.”
According to Bamidele, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition would have been “treated on its merits” had she followed the Senate’s procedural guidelines.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension followed a heated dispute over her seating arrangement in the Senate chamber, which escalated into a confrontation with Akpabio. However, she maintains that her removal was an orchestrated effort to silence her, citing gender-based discrimination and abuse of power.
The controversy has drawn significant public and international attention, with many closely watching how the IPU will respond to the escalating tensions within Nigeria’s legislative body.
