Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of victimisation following her suspension for alleged misconduct. She claims her suspension seeks to silence her criticism of Senate practices and highlights gender injustice in Nigeria’s male-dominated political landscape. Natasha’s case represents a broader struggle for female representation and accountability in government.
ABUJA, Nigeria — In a dramatic twist that has rocked Nigeria’s political establishment, Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has levelled scathing accusations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In an exclusive BBC interview, the embattled lawmaker declared, “I am being victimised. My suspension is a way to silence me,” igniting fierce debates over gender injustice and internal Senate misconduct.
A Suspension or a Silencing Strategy?
On March 6, Natasha was suspended for “gross misconduct” following an altercation over seating arrangements in the chamber. However, the senator vehemently denies that the disciplinary action was warranted on behavioural grounds.
Instead, she claims it is a calculated move by powerful interests to mute her outspoken criticism of prevailing Senate practices.
Critics have argued that her suspension not only undermines democratic accountability but also reflects a broader pattern of marginalisation against female lawmakers in a predominantly male-dominated institution.
Senate Deputy Chief Whip Onyekachi Nwaebonyi dismissed the allegations of sexual harassment, asserting that Natasha’s legislative record contradicts her claims of victimisation.
Yet, for Natasha, this is merely the tip of the iceberg in a saga that she says is designed to erase her voice and intimidate women in politics.
Alleged Harassing Encounters Unfold
In a series of shocking revelations, Natasha recounted two separate incidents that have sent shockwaves through political circles. In one harrowing account, she described an encounter at Senate President Akpabio’s country residence.
“We were at his country home. He was taking me around his house while my husband walked behind us. He held my hand and then squeezed it in a very suggestive way,” she recalled. “We, women, know what it means when a man squeezes our hands in a suggestive way.”
The senator did not stop there. In another incident, she recounted a moment inside the Senate chamber when, having forgotten to wear her ring, she was met with a derisive comment by Akpabio in the presence of several colleagues.
“There were about five senators present when he remarked, ‘Oh Natasha, you are not wearing your ring, is this an invitation to treat?’” she revealed.
Such allegations have not only inflamed public opinion but also raised uncomfortable questions about the abuse of power within Nigeria’s upper legislative house.
Taking the Battle to the Global Stage
Refusing to be cowed, Natasha has taken her fight beyond national borders. In a bold move, she presented her case at a United Nations forum, appealing for international intervention to hold the Nigerian Senate accountable for what she describes as a “stunning display of patriarchal impunity.”
With only four women in the 109-member chamber, her case has become emblematic of the broader struggle for gender equality and democratic reform in Nigeria.
A Senate Divided
While Senate leaders insist that the suspension was based solely on breaches of decorum and not linked to her sexual harassment claims, public sentiment appears sharply divided.
Critics argue that this episode is indicative of a deeper, systemic issue within Nigerian politics—a culture where dissent is suppressed, and female voices are routinely silenced.
As Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan vows to continue her fight against what she terms “institutional victimisation,” the nation watches closely.
Her battle, set against a backdrop of entrenched male dominance and procedural rigidity, encapsulates the urgent need for transparent investigations and meaningful reforms in Nigeria’s legislative corridors.
- Additional report by Omonigho Macaulay, Atlantic Post National Correspondent
