Posted by Amarachi on Thu 20th Mar, 2025 - tori.ng
She stated that he harassed her for a year but decided to speak out because he attempted to make things difficult for her.
The lawmaker representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in a recent interview with Sky News has spoken about her suspension from the Senate.
She addressed her six-month suspension from the Senate, which came just one day after she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of s3xual harassment.
She stated that he harassed her for a year but decided to speak out because he attempted to make things difficult for her.
“I made an allegation of s3xual harassment against the President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on the fifth day of March 2025, and the very next day I was suspended for six months. I believe my suspension was illegal, is illegal, it’s unjust, and it’s just a way of silencing me.”
The Nigerian Senate, however, denied any link between her suspension and the allegations against Akpabio. In an official statement, it claimed her removal was due to “gross misconduct and unruly behavior.”
Responding to this, Akpoti-Uduaghan challenged the Senate to specify what actions constituted misconduct severe enough to warrant such a lengthy suspension. She argued that her punishment stemmed directly from her decision to file a petition against Akpabio.
“They say I was suspended for gross misconduct, but can they define exactly what I did that warranted six months of suspension? I was suspended the day after I submitted a petition. That’s the real reason, not any misconduct.”
She further pointed out that male senators have engaged in disruptive behavior—such as fighting, throwing objects, and using abusive language—without facing similar disciplinary actions.
“I was told to move my seat, and I refused because I deserved to be notified and given a chance to explain why I should retain it. Meanwhile, I’ve seen male senators fight, throw items, curse, and shout at each other, yet none were suspended. Why? Because they are men.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan also accused Akpabio of persistently obstructing her legislative efforts after she rejected his alleged advances.
“For over a year, I have endured s3xual harassment at the hands of the Senate President. Because I refused to yield to his demands, it turned into malice. He deliberately denied me opportunities to present my motions, and even my husband had to step in to ask why I was being sidelined. But whenever I approached him alone, he would say, ‘I am the chief presiding officer of the National Assembly. If you want privileges, you have to please me.''
When asked if it was appropriate to make such allegations publicly, she defended her decision, insisting that speaking out on television was the only way to ensure her voice was heard.
“Which other way was I supposed to do it that would have made my voice heard?”
Her suspension has sparked nationwide debate, with women’s rights groups organizing protests under the banner “We Are All Natasha.” Activists argue that the move highlights systemic challenges women face in Nigerian politics and represents an effort to silence a vocal female lawmaker.
Meanwhile, Senate President Akpabio has denied the allegations, questioning their timing and suggesting they only surfaced after Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned from certain committees. He also noted that she had previously made similar accusations against other public figures without proof.
The Senate’s Ethics Committee dismissed her petition on procedural grounds and cited her “persistent acts of misconduct”—including refusing to move seats, speaking without recognition, and making accusations against Senate leadership—as justification for her suspension.
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