Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has taken her case to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Geneva, Switzerland, challenging her suspension from the Nigerian Senate and alleging harassment by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Describing her suspension as unlawful, Akpoti-Uduaghan told the global parliamentary body that her situation highlights the struggles women face in Nigerian politics.
She claimed she was removed from office after speaking up about alleged sexual harassment by Akpabio, a move she believes was politically motivated.
The Senate had suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months, cutting off her allowances and security.
On Wednesday, the Senate Ethics Committee dismissed her petition against Akpabio, stating that it failed to meet procedural requirements.
However, some reports have linked her suspension to a prior disagreement over changes to her Senate seat allocation.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only four female senators in the 109-member legislature, first made the harassment allegation during a televised interview on February 28, where she accused Akpabio of making unwanted advances in 2023.
Her appeal to the IPU is expected to attract international scrutiny on the treatment of female politicians in Nigeria.
Leave a Reply