Nigerian lawmakers have imposed a six-month suspension on a senator following her submission of a petition claiming sexual harassment by the Senate President.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan made these allegations against prominent politician Godswill Akpabio during an interview last Friday. After the ethics committee dismissed her petition on procedural grounds, they recommended her suspension, stating that her actions had brought disrepute to the National Assembly’s upper chamber.
While some senators proposed reducing her suspension to three months, the majority voted in favor of maintaining the six-month term suggested by the ethics committee.
Women’s rights advocate Hadiza Ado expressed to the BBC that Senator Uduaghan’s suspension marked a “sad day for Nigerian women.”
In response, Uduaghan characterized her suspension as “an injustice that will not endure,” pledging to persist in her “pursuit of justice” regarding her treatment.
The allegations have sparked widespread discussion throughout Nigeria since they were first made public nearly a week ago, with numerous influential individuals and organizations calling for a thorough investigation.
On Wednesday, two groups of protesters convened at the assembly grounds in Abuja—one supporting Akpabio and the other advocating for Uduaghan, chanting “Akpabio must go.”
Mrs. Ado, founder of the Women and Children Initiative, stated, “We have been closely monitoring the developments at the Assembly and are hopeful that an investigation into Natasha’s allegations will take place.”
Today marks a somber moment for Nigerian women advocating for their rights, as only four out of 109 senators are women, and one of them has been suspended, she stated.
Numerous women on social media voiced their frustration regarding the suspension, with many labeling it as a form of “oppression.”
During her suspension, Uduaghan will be prohibited from entering the National Assembly, and her office will be secured.
