Tulia Ackson, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), has vowed to take appropriate action regarding the suspension of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti, by the Nigerian Senate. Ackson assured that while the IPU has heard Akpoti’s concerns, the Senate leadership will also be given the opportunity to present their side before any steps are taken. Akpoti, who has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of victimization following her sexual harassment complaint, brought her case before the IPU during a Women in Parliament Session in New York, calling for international intervention and highlighting the broader crisis of women’s political representation in Nigeria.
The IPU President noted that what Natasha said had been heard. Her words: “Dear colleagues, there was a matter before I closed the meeting, there was a matter that arose during the first session which we had this morning, the matter that was raised by our colleague from Nigeria, Senator Natasha.”
“And because all of us heard what she said and it only serves us better if I put a word in what she has said. So I would like to say we have.”
“We have had her concerns and having heard her, it would have been an opportunity for all of us to understand more about what she has said.”
“But because we listened only on her side as an institution, as IPU, we will be taking the concerns that have been raised, not only taking her side but also giving a chance to listen to the other side as it is a custom for IPU and after having listened to the other side.”
“We will take steps as necessary. So I thought it was necessary for us to say a word about it and then be able to take it further.”
“So I thought I should let you members before we think she because she said something different from what the contributions were.”
“So we have taken care of, we have taken the concerns that she raised and we will be working on them, of course, having listened to the other side and we will be able to take steps after that.”
She promised to ensure that an opportunity was given to the “other party” to hear their side of the story.
“I also recognise the fact that our Nigerian delegate who is here had requested the floor but because of time she wasn’t given a chance to speak. But like I said, we have had the concerns that have been raised by Senator Natasha…”
Senator Natasha Akpoti–Uduaghan, the suspended senator representing Kogi Central, had taken her case to the United Nations Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of victimisation, intimidation, and abuse of power following her sexual harassment complaint against him.
Speaking at the Women in Parliament Session during the IPU meeting in New York, she called for global intervention, alleging that she was being punished for standing up against injustice. Her emotional address detailed how she was stripped of her Senate privileges, silenced, and unlawfully suspended for six months.
“I come with a heavy heart from Nigeria,” she began. “But I’m not here to bring shame to my country, I’m here to seek help for the women of Nigeria.”
“Five days ago, on the 6th of March, 2025, I was suspended as a senator illegally because I submitted a petition of sexual harassment against the President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio. I thought that by submitting the petition, he would recuse himself and both of us would submit ourselves to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petition for a fair and transparent investigation, but unfortunately, I was silenced and I was suspended.”
“I was suspended for six months under stringent conditions: my security detail was withdrawn, all officials working closely with me as a Senator were removed, my salary was cut off, I was barred from appearing anywhere near the National Assembly, and for six months, I was prohibited from introducing myself as a Senator, whether locally in Nigeria or internationally. That would imply that I am here illegally. But I have no other place to go but to come here and speak to you women, because this is bigger than me. It depicts the crisis of women in political representation.
“My suspension is not just about me—women make up only 2.8% of the Senate. Out of 109 senators, only four of us are women.”
“My call for an open investigation into harassment has been met with hostility instead of accountability, in full view of the world. Imagine what ordinary Nigerians face every day,” she added
She described the Senate’s actions as an assault on democracy, silencing not just her but also the voices of those who elected her. “If a female senator can be treated this way in full view of the world, imagine what ordinary Nigerian women go through every day in workplaces and universities.”
Her suspension has sparked widespread debate in Nigeria, with many questioning the fairness of the judgement. By taking her case to the UN and the IPU–a global organisation of national parliaments based in Geneva that promotes democracy and gender equality in politics–Senator Natasha seeks global support against what she describes as political oppression.
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