Nigerian Senate upholds Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension

The Nigerian Senate has firmly defended its decision to suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, for six months, following widespread public criticism and allegations of bias.

In an official statement released by the Office of the Leader of the Senate, Senator Bamidele Opeyemi, the Senate clarified that the suspension was solely due to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s persistent acts of misconduct, blatant disregard for the provisions of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (As Amended), and gross indiscipline.

The Senate refuted claims that the suspension was linked to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, emphasizing that her petition was dismissed due to non-compliance with procedural requirements.

The Senate outlined a series of incidents that led to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, stating that her actions were a direct challenge to the authority of the Senate and a violation of its rules.

On February 25, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan allegedly refused to sit in her assigned seat during plenary, despite multiple requests from the Minority Leader and other senior senators.

This was viewed as an act of open defiance and disorderly conduct.

On the same day, she purportedly spoke without being recognized by the presiding officer, violating established parliamentary procedures.

The Senate also accused her of engaging in unruly and disruptive behavior that obstructed the orderly conduct of Senate proceedings and making abusive and disrespectful remarks against the Senate leadership.

Additionally, she allegedly defied summons from the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, which was mandated to investigate cases of misconduct.

In its statement, the Senate condemned media reports suggesting a link between Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension and her sexual harassment allegations as irresponsible and unethical.

The statement read in part, “The Authority of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria firmly rebuts the deliberate misinformation and false narratives being circulated by certain media organisations regarding the six-month suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

“Let it be unequivocally stated that Senator Uduaghan was suspended solely for her persistent acts of misconduct, blatant disregard for the provisions of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (As Amended), and gross indiscipline—nothing more, nothing less.”

The Senate further clarified that the suspension was a decision of the Committee of the Whole Senate, following a report by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

The report found her guilty of violating Senate rules and recommended her immediate suspension.

The suspension follows a series of events involving Akpoti-Uduaghan.

On February 25, 2025, the Senate unanimously voted to refer her to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for a disciplinary review following a dispute over a seating arrangement.

Subsequently, on March 6, 2025, she was suspended for six months after the committee found her guilty of breaching Senate rules.

Critics have condemned the committee’s handling of the case, alleging bias and questioning the ethical foundation of the Senate’s decision.

Some have pointed to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s previous allegations against Senate President Akpabio, including claims of sexual harassment, as a potential motive for the suspension.

Addressing the sexual harassment allegations, the Senate stated that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition was dismissed due to non-compliance with procedural requirements.

The Senate emphasized that no petition—regardless of its subject—can be considered if it does not follow due process.

The Senate urged media organizations to correct what it described as misrepresentations of the facts, reiterating that the suspension was based solely on disciplinary grounds.

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