Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has come under intense scrutiny following her participation in the recent Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in New York. Despite being suspended for six months from the Nigerian Senate for alleged misconduct, Akpoti-Uduaghan attended the international event, sparking a significant controversy.
The senator, in an exclusive interview, revealed that she had been informed of a planned arrest upon her return to Nigeria. She speculated that this was a direct consequence of her speech at the event, in which she addressed the sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed that her address had caused a backlash, with threats being made against her.
Furthermore, she recounted a distressing encounter during the meeting when Nigerian Embassy officials, led by the Chargé D’Affaires, tried to have her removed from the event venue. According to Akpoti-Uduaghan, it was only due to the intervention of parliamentarians from other countries and security personnel that she was able to remain at the conference.
“I registered online as a senator,” Akpoti-Uduaghan clarified, “The suspension does not remove my legitimacy as a senator. I attended the same programme last year and was already on the mailing list. After getting a pass, I bought my own ticket and funded my trip and participation at the event.” She emphasized that her participation in the IPU was self-funded and done in her personal capacity, not as a representative of the Nigerian government.
This was not the first time the senator had attended an IPU meeting. Earlier this year, she had joined Senate President Akpabio at the 148th IPU General Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. In that assembly, Akpabio had delivered statements regarding a ceasefire in Gaza and humanitarian issues, demonstrating the international scope of Nigerian parliamentary activities.
Explaining her recent trip, Akpoti-Uduaghan noted that she had been involved with the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and had previously participated in IPU events. She stated that the IPU is an inclusive platform open to both government officials and civil society members. She also clarified that she traveled to New York on her ordinary Nigerian passport, not on any diplomatic or official visa.
Regarding her suspension from the Nigerian Senate, which prohibits her from identifying as a senator, Akpoti-Uduaghan referred to it as “illegal.” She further insisted that, despite this suspension, she attended the IPU event in her official capacity and spoke as a legitimate representative of her constituents.
The Nigerian government’s response to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s attendance has been less than supportive. Both internal and external intelligence agencies, including the State Security Service (SSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), have launched investigations to determine how the senator gained access to the event without official authorization. The investigation is expected to explore several issues, including how Akpoti-Uduaghan obtained her credentials, whether she violated any IPU or Nigerian protocols, and if her participation misrepresented Nigeria’s official stance.
Akpoti-Uduaghan has also lodged a formal complaint with the IPU, addressing her suspension by the Nigerian Senate and the allegations against Senate President Akpabio. In her statement, she described her suspension as part of the larger challenges faced by women in Nigerian politics. “Women make up only 2.8% of the Senate. Out of 109 senators, only four of us are women,” she said, underscoring the gender imbalance in Nigerian political representation.
In contrast, the Nigerian Senate has vehemently refuted Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele issued a letter denying that the senator’s suspension was related to sexual harassment allegations. The letter emphasized that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension was a result of her “gross misconduct” and failure to adhere to Senate regulations.
Meanwhile, the Senate Ethics Committee is preparing to hear testimonies from both Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan regarding the sexual harassment allegations. The Committee, which is tasked with investigating such claims, has stated that it will take into account the testimonies of all relevant parties before making any determinations.
Peace OdekunleMarch 17, 20252 Mins read
