The camp of Senate President Godswill Akpabio has dismissed the authority of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to summon him over the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the National Assembly.
Akpabio’s media aide, Eseme Eyiboh, made this clear in an interview on Wednesday, insisting that the matter is an internal parliamentary issue that does not concern the IPU.
“They don’t have the authority to do that. It is an internal affair of the National Assembly. Akpabio can’t be forced to honour an IPU invitation,” Eyiboh stated.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Complaint to the IPU
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, was suspended for six months on March 6 following a dispute with Akpabio over a new seating arrangement in the Senate chamber. She later accused Akpabio of politically victimizing her for rejecting his alleged sexual advances.
Seeking international intervention, she took her case to the IPU, a United Nations agency, where she lodged a complaint against the Nigerian Senate and Akpabio.
After listening to her concerns, the IPU, through its President Tulia Ackson, stated that it would need to hear Akpabio’s side before taking a position.
The IPU stated, “Ackson acknowledged Akpoti-Uduaghan’s concerns but stressed the need for procedural fairness by hearing Akpabio’s side as well,” the IPU stated.
However, Akpabio’s aide dismissed the IPU’s involvement as interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs. “The IPU cannot meddle in the parliament and internal affairs of a sovereign state like Nigeria. It will be very embarrassing,” Eyiboh declared.
He also accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of acting in contempt of court. “She was said to have obtained a court order, yet she left the court to start heading to the IPU. That means she has no regard for the rule of law,” he said.
When asked whether the senator would face further sanctions for her actions, Eyiboh refused to speculate. “I cannot predict that,” he stated.
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Senate Denies Allegations of Sexual Harassment
Meanwhile, the Senate has denied that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension was related to allegations of sexual harassment. Instead, it said the disciplinary action was due to “gross misconduct” and violations of parliamentary rules.
In a statement, Senate Leader Bamidele Opeyemi accused the media of spreading misinformation. “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, and gross indiscipline—nothing more, nothing less,” he said.
According to the Senate, the decision to suspend Akpoti-Uduaghan was based on findings from the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges. The committee cited multiple violations, including:
- Refusing to sit in her assigned seat during plenary
- Speaking without recognition from the presiding officer
- Disruptive behavior in the chamber
- Making abusive remarks against Senate leadership
- Ignoring summons from the Ethics and Privileges Committee
Opeyemi stressed that these actions “constituted a direct challenge to the authority of the Senate and warranted disciplinary measures.”
Senate Defends Its Actions
The Senate also rejected claims that Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended because of a petition she submitted. “Contrary to false claims, Senator Uduaghan was NOT suspended for making any sexual harassment allegation or for submitting a petition,” Opeyemi stated.
He explained that her petition was rejected because it did not meet procedural requirements. “All petitions, regardless of their subject matter, must adhere to due process,” he added.
Furthermore, the Senate condemned the media for what it described as “irresponsible and unethical reporting.” It accused some outlets of trying to “politicize a disciplinary action strictly based on violations of Senate rules.”
“This coordinated misinformation campaign is an attempt to undermine public trust in the legislative process,” the statement read.
The Senate urged both local and international media organizations to correct the alleged misrepresentations. “The Senate remains committed to upholding discipline, order, and parliamentary ethics. No senator—regardless of status, gender, or political affiliation—is above the rules of the Senate,” Opeyemi concluded.