Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central in Nigeria, has brought her case to the United Nations Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) following her controversial suspension from the Nigerian Senate. Speaking at the Women in Parliament Session during the IPU meeting in New York, she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of victimization and abuse of power in response to her sexual harassment complaint against him.

Akpoti-Uduaghan detailed her experience, explaining that after submitting a petition against Akpabio on March 6, 2025, she was unexpectedly suspended for six months. This suspension, which she claims is illegal, has resulted in the withdrawal of her senatorial privileges, including security detail, official vehicles, and salary.

The senator expressed her disappointment with the process, stating that she had anticipated a fair investigation by the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petition. Instead, she found herself silenced and barred from presenting herself as a senator both domestically and internationally.

Akpoti-Uduaghan framed her situation as emblematic of broader issues facing women in Nigerian politics, calling for global intervention to address gender inequality and political oppression. She emphasized that her case reflects the challenges many Nigerian women face in workplaces and universities.

By appealing to the UN and the IPU, organizations that promote democracy and gender equality in politics, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan seeks international support against what she perceives as an assault on democratic principles and women’s rights in Nigeria. Her suspension has ignited a national debate on the fairness of parliamentary procedures and the treatment of female politicians in the country.