Battle Continues As Senate Upholds Senator Natasha’s Six-Month Suspension Days After Oshiomhole, Umeh Back Akpabio

Israel Adeleke

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that during the senate executive session on Wednesday the Nigerian Senate, upheld the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, adding that she must serve out her suspension, which took effect from March 6, 2025.

OTN News further reports that this is coming days after the Senate suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months for allegedly violating the Senate Standing Rules. 

The Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions had recommended the six-month suspension, which includes the suspension of her salary, allowances, and those of her legislative aides, as well as the withdrawal of her security escorts.

Subsequently, it was learned on Wednesday that Senators Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central, APC) and Abdul Ahmed Ningi (Bauchi Central, PDP) proposed that a committee be set up to resolve the issue involving Natasha and to pass a vote of confidence in Akpabio.

OTN News had earlier reported that Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC) opposed the idea of setting up a committee to resolve the issue involving Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Oshiomhole argued that forming a committee would make the Senate appear weak if it reversed the suspension.

Furthermore, a source speaking on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that Senator Victor Umeh of the Labour Party backed Senate President Akpabio and even proposed a Senate vote of confidence in him.

According to the source, “Goje, Ningi, and Dickson were against the suspension. Goje and Ningi proposed setting up a committee to resolve the Natasha issue and to conduct a vote of confidence in Akpabio. However, Oshiomhole opposed any committee, saying it would make the Senate look weak if they backed down."

“Victor Umeh of LP also supported Akpabio and went as far as proposing a Senate vote of confidence,” the source added.

The executive session however, ended with a decision to let Natasha serve out her suspension, which took effect from March 6, 2025.

OTN News observes that the senators’ deliberations at the executive session came a day after Akpoti-Uduaghan reported her suspension by the Senate and her case against Senate President Akpabio to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

The IPU is a global organization for national parliaments, with 181 member countries.

Natasha who described the Senate’s action as “illegal” and a reflection of the challenges women face in Nigeria, said that, she is not at the IPU to bring shame to her country, but was there to bring help to the women of our country.

According to her, “On March 6, I was suspended as a Senator—illegally—because I submitted a petition of sexual harassment against the President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio. I believed that by submitting the petition, he would recuse himself, and both of us would submit to a fair and transparent investigation by the committee on ethics. Unfortunately, I was silenced and suspended.

“I was suspended for six months under stringent conditions: my security detail was withdrawn, all officials working closely with me as a Senator were removed, my salary was cut off, I was barred from appearing anywhere near the National Assembly, and for six months, I was prohibited from introducing myself as a Senator.

“Whether locally in Nigeria or internationally, that would imply that I am here illegally. But I have nowhere else to turn except to speak before you all, because this situation illustrates the reality of women’s rights in political representation. My suspension is not just about me—women make up only 2.8% of the Senate. Out of 109 senators, only four of us are women.”

“My call for an open investigation into harassment has been met with hostility instead of accountability, in full view of the world. Imagine what ordinary Nigerians face every day,” she added.

However, the President of the world body in response acknowledged the concerns raised by Akpoti-Uduaghan and assured delegates that the matter would be given due attention that the global parliamentary organisation has taken note of all the concerns raised by the senator but it would also provide an opportunity for the Nigerian Senate to present its side of the story before taking any action.

He said “All of us heard what she said and it only serves us better if I put a word in what she has said. I would like to say we have heard you, we have heard her concerns and having heard her, it would have been an opportunity for all of us to understand more about what she has said but because we listened to only her side."

“As an institution, as IPU, we would be taking the concerns that have been raised, not only taking her side but also giving a chance to the other side as it is a custom for IPU and after having listened to the other side we would take steps as necessary. So I thought it was necessary for us to say a word about it and then be able to take it further”, she added

OTN News also reports that Ackson assured the assembly that the organisation would follow its established procedures in handling the issues as presented by the suspended Nigerian federal lawmaker

“We have taken the concerns that she raised and we will be working on them, of course having listened to the other side and we will be able to take steps after that. We have heard the concerns that have been raised by Senator Natasha but at the same time, we have taken cognisance of the fact that you would have wished to address us but time wasn’t enough to give you a chance to do that and that would have said that IPU will take up this matter as we usually do when such concerns are raised in a meeting like this” the world body president added.

OTN News had earlier reported that after an initial rejection of her petition, Akpoti-Uduaghan resubmitted her complaint against Akpabio, alleging sexual harassment.

This time, the petition was signed by a member of her constituency, Azamariya Mariya.

OTN News gathered that in the petition, she accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, abuse of office, and obstruction of her legislative duties.

While presenting it, she emphasised that the matter was not currently before any court in Nigeria, reinforcing her argument that it fell within the Senate’s jurisdiction to consider it.

The petition was subsequently referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for further review.

However, she was later suspended for six months, a move she condemned as an abuse of power.

OTN News further recalls that before Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, Chairman of the committee, Senator Neda Imasuen, said her actions had brought the Senate and its presiding officer into disrepute.

“For the Senate to consider lifting the suspension or to reduce the tenure, Senator Natasha shall submit a written apology before reconsideration by the Senate,” the committee’s recommendation read.