The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State, Aliyu Bello, has defended the Senate’s decision to suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months, insisting that the move was in line with legislative protocols and not influenced by gender considerations.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, was suspended on Thursday after the Senate Ethics Committee dismissed her petition alleging sexual harassment by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The committee ruled that her claims lacked procedural merit and had brought disrepute to the upper chamber.
In a published opinion piece titled “Akpabio, Natasha, and Senate: A Question of Rules, Not Gender,” Bello argued that the suspension was an enforcement of parliamentary order, not discrimination. He cited past instances where male senators faced similar disciplinary measures, including the 2018 suspension of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (APC, Delta Central) for 90 days and the 2023 suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) over budget padding allegations.
“The Nigerian Senate has a well-documented history of suspending members—male and female—who breach its rules,” Bello stated. “Why, then, should Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s case be framed differently?”
He warned that linking the senator’s suspension to gender bias could dilute genuine struggles for gender equity, emphasizing that Senate disciplinary procedures are impartial and uphold institutional integrity.
Bello also noted that none of the 109 senators, including members of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s party, opposed the suspension, underscoring the need for uniform enforcement of parliamentary rules.
The suspension has sparked heated debate, with critics accusing the Senate of targeting a female lawmaker. Supporters of Akpoti-Uduaghan are calling for a review of the decision, while others argue that legislative discipline must be upheld. The controversy is expected to intensify in the coming weeks as both sides push their narratives.
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