Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has alleged that her recent six-month suspension from the Nigerian Senate was politically motivated and illegal.
Speaking at the Women in Parliament session during the Inter-Parliamentary Union Meeting in New York on Tuesday, the lawmaker accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment and claimed that her suspension was a retaliatory measure aimed at silencing her.
“I came with a heavy heart from Nigeria. I am not here to bring shame to my country but to seek justice for women in Nigeria,” she stated, breaking down in tears.
According to Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspension came with severe restrictions, including the withdrawal of her security details, official vehicles, and salary. She was also barred from identifying herself as a senator or accessing the National Assembly for six months.
Describing the suspension as a case of political victimization, she urged the international community to intervene, emphasizing that her ordeal highlights broader issues of gender-based suppression in Nigerian politics.
Her allegations have sparked widespread debate, with calls for a thorough investigation into the claims.
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