Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended representative of Kogi Central, has taken her case to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Meeting at the United Nations (UN) in New York, seeking global intervention over what she describes as political oppression and gender-based discrimination in Nigeria.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Appeal at the UN
During the Women in Parliament Session at the IPU meeting, Senator Natasha urged international democratic bodies to intervene in her suspension from the Nigerian Senate. She alleged that the decision to suspend her was unlawful and politically motivated, aimed at silencing her advocacy for justice and gender equality.
Background of Natasha’s Suspension
Senator Natasha’s suspension followed a contentious exchange with Senate President Godswill Akpabio. She accused Akpabio of sexual harassment and filed a formal petition, hoping for an unbiased investigation by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petition. Instead, she was suspended for six months, stripped of her official privileges, and barred from legislative activities both locally and internationally.
A video obtained by Vanguard shows Natasha in tears while presenting her case at the global forum. She expressed fears for her safety, alleging that there were attempts to detain her in New York for speaking out.
Political and Gender Implications
Her suspension has sparked widespread debate in Nigeria, with many questioning the fairness of the disciplinary action. The senator emphasized that her case highlights the broader issue of women’s marginalization in Nigerian politics.
Speaking passionately at the UN, she stated:
“This is a bigger picture; it depicts the crisis of women in political representation. My suspension is not just about me—it is about systemic exclusion, suppression of dissent, and punishment for standing against corruption and gender-based violence.”
International Response and Calls for Justice
Senator Natasha called on global institutions to hold Nigeria’s leadership accountable for protecting women in politics. She argued that her suspension undermines democracy, as it silences the voices of her constituents who elected her to represent them.
“If a female senator can be treated this way in the full view of the world, imagine what ordinary Nigerian women go through daily in workplaces and universities.”
By taking her case to the UN and the IPU, Natasha aims to amplify her fight against political victimization and demand justice not just for herself, but for all women facing discrimination in governance.
Inter-Parliamentary Union
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