Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has alleged that her recent six-month suspension from the Nigerian Senate was a deliberate move to suppress her voice. In an interview with the BBC on Tuesday, she claimed that the disciplinary action against her was politically motivated and aimed at silencing her.
“I am being victimized. My suspension is a means of silencing me,” she asserted during the interview.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, which took effect on March 6, was imposed after she was accused of “gross misconduct.” The decision came after she failed to appear before the Senate Ethics and Privileges Committee, which was set to investigate her conduct. However, her suspension was widely seen as a consequence of her heated confrontation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio during a plenary session in February.
Allegations of Sexual Harassment Against Akpabio
As the controversy over her suspension deepened, Akpoti-Uduaghan went on to make startling allegations against Akpabio, accusing him of sexual harassment both within and outside the Senate chambers.
Recounting an incident at Akpabio’s country home, she claimed that the Senate President behaved inappropriately towards her in the presence of her husband.
“We were at his country home, and he was taking me around the house. My husband was walking behind us. At some point, he held my hand and then squeezed it in a very suggestive way,” she alleged.
She emphasized that as a woman, she clearly understood the implication of such an action.
“We, women, know what it means when a man squeezes our hands in a suggestive way,” she added.
Akpoti-Uduaghan further recalled another incident inside the Senate chambers, where she alleged that Akpabio made an inappropriate remark about her marital status.
“There was a time when I rushed to work and forgot to wear my wedding ring. There were about five senators present, and he (Akpabio) said, ‘Oh Natasha, you are not wearing your ring, is this an invitation to treat?’ You know, statements like this,” she explained.
Senate Deputy Chief Whip Dismisses Allegations
In response to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims, Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, strongly refuted the allegations, describing them as baseless.
“Senator Natasha’s legislative activities show that this claim is not true,” Nwaebonyi told the BBC, further dismissing her assertion that the Senate was trying to silence her.
According to Nwaebonyi, there was no evidence to suggest that Akpabio had ever made inappropriate advances or comments toward Akpoti-Uduaghan, and he urged the public not to be misled by her statements.
Broader Debate on Gender and Power in the Senate
The controversy surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension has sparked widespread debate about the treatment of female lawmakers in Nigerian politics.
Critics argue that the Senate’s internal disciplinary measures often lack transparency, fostering an environment that discourages accountability and stifles dissenting voices. They claim that suspending a lawmaker for alleged misconduct without proper due process raises concerns about the fairness of the system.
On the other hand, some observers insist that disciplinary actions against lawmakers should not be politicized. They argue that all senators, regardless of gender or political stance, must be held to the same ethical standards and that misconduct should be addressed without bias.
As these allegations continue to generate heated discussions, the Nigerian Senate now faces increased scrutiny regarding its internal governance, gender dynamics, and the extent to which lawmakers can freely express their views without fear of retribution.
