The Nigerian Senate has upheld the six-month suspension of the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The decision follows an executive session on Wednesday.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on March 6, 2025, following a rift with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over a change of seating arrangements in the Red Chamber.

She later accused the president of the senate of sexual harassment. Thereafter, the Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions recommended her suspension for violating Senate Standing Rules.

As part of the suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s salary and allowances were stopped, her legislative aides were dismissed, and her security details were withdrawn. She was also prohibited from accessing the National Assembly premises and identifying herself as a senator during the suspension period.

Before her suspension, the committee’s chairman, Senator Neda Imasuen, stated that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s actions had brought the Senate and its leadership into disrepute.

The committee also set a condition for lifting her suspension. The committee said, “For the Senate to consider lifting the suspension or to reduce the tenure, Senator Natasha shall submit a written apology before reconsideration by the Senate.”

Meanwhile, fresh details have emerged concerning the controversy.

It is understood that during Wednesday’s executive session, some senators, including Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe Central) and Abdul Ahmed Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), proposed setting up a committee to mediate the issue and suggested passing a vote of confidence in Akpabio.

However, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC) strongly opposed the idea, arguing that forming a committee would make the Senate appear weak if it later reversed the suspension. Senator Victor Umeh (Labour Party) also supported Akpabio and even pushed for a formal vote of confidence in him.

A source familiar with the discussions said, “Goje, Ningi, and Dickson opposed the suspension. Goje and Ningi suggested creating a committee to resolve the Natasha issue and to vote confidence in Akpabio. However, Oshiomhole rejected any committee, saying it would make the Senate look weak if they backtracked.”

The session ended with the Senate maintaining Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, which will last until September 2025.

On Tuesday, Senator Natasha had taken her case to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), a global organization of national parliaments. She described her suspension as “illegal” and a reflection of the struggles women face in Nigerian politics.

“I am not here to bring shame to my country; I am here to bring help to the women of our country,” she said.

She further stated, “On March 6, 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 believed that by submitting the petition, he would recuse himself, and both of us would submit to a fair and transparent investigation by the committee on ethics. Unfortunately, I was silenced and suspended.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan outlined the conditions of her suspension, saying, “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.”

“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.

Following her report, IPU President Tulia Ackson stated that appropriate action would be taken after hearing the Senate’s side of the story.

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