The Igbo Progressive Women group has criticized Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for allegedly tarnishing Nigeria’s image before the international community, calling for a thorough investigation into her recent trip to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in New York.
The controversy follows Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims that there were plans to arrest her upon her return to Nigeria. She linked the alleged move to her participation in the IPU meeting on March 11, where she raised concerns about her suspension from the Senate and accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment.
In a statement on Tuesday, the group’s president, Chief Mrs. Grace Ohabuenyi, expressed concern over the senator’s approach, suggesting that she might be acting on behalf of individuals aiming to discredit the Nigerian government.
“We initially exercised restraint because this concerns a fellow woman, but the way she has handled it raises serious questions. Why didn’t she wait for the court’s decision before taking the matter to the international stage?” Ohabuenyi queried.
The group questioned the circumstances surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan’s participation in the IPU meeting, demanding to know who facilitated her appearance despite her suspension.
“We need to understand her motives and who is behind this attempt to ridicule Nigeria before the world. Actions like these could undermine efforts to secure more leadership roles for women in politics,” Ohabuenyi added.
The group also referenced an earlier statement by Unoma Akpabio, wife of the Senate President, who noted that her family and the senator’s family had longstanding ties. They expressed skepticism about why Akpoti-Uduaghan did not confide in Akpabio’s wife about the alleged harassment before making it public.
Calling for security agencies to investigate the senator’s trip, the women’s group warned that such actions could harm the credibility of women in governance.
“We have been advocating for greater female representation in leadership, but incidents like this cast doubt on our efforts. It’s no longer about the Senate President—it’s about undermining the federal government,” the statement concluded.
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