|Published 3:55 PM ET, Thursday March 20, 2025|
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Abuja: Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, recently characterized the Nigerian Senate as being “run like a cult” during an interview with the BBC.
“The Nigerian Senate operates like a cult. The Senate president runs the Senate like a dictator, not a democrat. There is no freedom of speech, there is no freedom of expression, and anyone who dares to go against him gets cut to size,” the 45-year-old said in the first TV interview since her suspension.
This assertion follows a series of contentious events involving her and the Senate leadership.
In February 2025, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, alleging that he had made inappropriate advances toward her. Akpabio has denied these allegations. Subsequently, on March 6, 2025, the Senate’s Committee on Ethics and Privileges recommended a six-month suspension for Akpoti-Uduaghan, citing “unruly and disruptive” behavior during an unrelated dispute over seating arrangements in the Senate chamber.
This suspension has been widely criticized by women’s rights groups and civil society organizations, who view it as an attempt to silence her and a setback for gender equality in Nigerian politics.
In response to her suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan has taken her case to international platforms, including a session at the United Nations, seeking intervention and accountability regarding the actions of the Nigerian Senate.
The situation has sparked nationwide protests under the banner “We are all Natasha,” highlighting the challenges faced by women in Nigerian politics and bringing issues of sexual harassment and gender inequality to the forefront of public discourse.
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