Suspended Nigerian Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has accused the Senate of gender bias in its disciplinary actions, alleging that male lawmakers who engaged in violent behavior were never punished, while she was suspended for six months without clear justification.
Speaking in an interview, Natasha highlighted instances where male senators physically fought, threw objects, and hurled insults at each other without facing suspension or sanctions. She questioned why she was singled out for punishment, suggesting that her suspension was politically motivated.
“I have seen male senators fight, throw items, and curse at each other in the chambers, yet none of them were suspended. Why? Because they are men?” she asked.
Natasha challenged the Senate to specify the “gross misconduct” that led to her suspension, asserting that the action was a direct response to her petition accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment.
“They mentioned gross misconduct, but what exactly did I do to warrant a six-month suspension? I was suspended because of the petition I submitted, not because of any misconduct,” she stated.
The senator detailed her allegations against Akpabio, claiming that she faced persistent harassment after refusing his alleged advances. She said her refusal led to systematic denial of her rights and privileges as a lawmaker, including opportunities to present motions and bills.
“I experienced sexual harassment from the Senate president. When I refused to yield to his demands, it turned into malice. My rights and privileges as a senator were deliberately withheld,” she explained.
Natasha recounted how her husband, who is friends with Akpabio, attempted to intervene on her behalf, but her requests to speak or present bills were repeatedly delayed or denied. She alleged that Akpabio tied her participation in Senate activities to personal gratification.
“Each time I approached him, he would say, ‘You have to please me, make me happy to get these privileges.’ Because I refused, I was punished,” she said.
The breaking point, according to Natasha, came when she was forcibly removed from her seat in the Senate chambers. Despite Akpabio’s denial of the allegations, Natasha remains defiant, insisting that her suspension was retaliation for speaking out.
The Senate has maintained that her suspension was due to “gross misconduct and unruly behavior,” but Natasha’s demand for specific details of her alleged misconduct remains unanswered.
The controversy has sparked a broader debate about gender bias and accountability within Nigeria’s legislative body, with many calling for transparency in the Senate’s disciplinary processes.
