Nigeria: Senator suspended amid sexual harassment allegations against Senate President
In a controversial move, Nigerian Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been suspended for six months after accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment. The decision, upheld by a majority vote in the National Assembly, followed the dismissal of her petition on procedural grounds.
The ethics committee claimed her allegations brought “ridicule” to the Senate, despite widespread calls for a transparent investigation.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who first made the claims in an interview last week, denounced her suspension as “an injustice” and vowed to continue her fight for justice.
The case has sparked national outrage, with women’s rights activists condemning the move as a setback for gender equality. Hadiza Ado of the Women and Children Initiative called it a “sad day for Nigerian women,” noting that only four of 109 senators are women, with one now suspended.
Protests erupted in Abuja, with demonstrators divided—some supporting Akpabio, others demanding his resignation. Social media has been flooded with criticism, with many labeling the suspension as “oppression.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan will be barred from the National Assembly during her suspension, and her office locked. The case continues to dominate national discourse, raising questions about accountability and the treatment of women in Nigerian politics.
