The six months suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan following her allegations against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has drawn debates on gender, power, and political fairness in Nigeria.
Though the Senate had said her suspension was not related to her fight with Akpabio but due to her alleged incessant violation of the senate rules, many Nigerians, particularly those from the north have continued to raise concerns on the place of women in Nigerian politics.
While some view the current development as a reflection of the challenges female politicians face, others see it as a political dispute with broader implications for the Senate’s integrity.
On March 6, 2025, the Senate suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan, citing violations of legislative decorum.
The Senate’s ethics committee reported that she engaged in unruly behavior, made disrespectful remarks against Senate leadership, and defied committee summonses.
Specifically, she was accused of refusing to sit in her assigned seat, speaking without recognition, and making abusive comments. These actions were deemed violations of Sections 6.1 and 6.2 of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (As Amended).
Akpoti-Uduaghan, prior to her suspension, submitted a petition accusing the Senate President of sexual harassment, abuse of office, and obstruction of legislative functions.
However, the Senate’s ethics committee dismissed her petition, citing procedural rule violations.
Also, Akpabio publicly denied the allegations, stating that he had never harassed Akpoti-Uduaghan or any female senator.
Shortly after this, the Senate announced Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension, leading to speculation that it was a retaliatory move to silence her.
Reacting to the allegations of bias on Saturday, Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele issued a statement insisting that Akpoti-Uduaghan was not suspended because of her petition but for her consistent misconduct and blatant disregard for Senate rules.
He urged the public and the media to disregard false narratives suggesting that the suspension was linked to her petition against Akpabio.
He emphasized that the decision was necessary to restore order and maintain the integrity of the Senate.
The timing of her suspension, coming shortly after her sexual harassment petition, has led to widespread public skepticism.
Many Nigerians, including opposition politicians and activists, believe the action was politically motivated and aimed at silencing her.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemned the suspension, describing it
as suppression.
Atiku argued that the decision undermined the principles of fairness, representation, and gender inclusivity.
“Women should be empowered to fully participate in governance, not stifled,” he stated.
Also, organisations such as the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) criticised the Senate’s decision to suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months, calling it an unconstitutional move that undermines democracy and legislative independence.
The criticism continued with organisation like the Coalition for Women in Governance and the Women in Management, Business, and Public Service who threatened to mobilise women for a massive protest if the decision was not reversed.
This prompted a response from the Federal Government on Friday, stating its intention to intervene in the crisis.
Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Iman Suleiman-Ibrahim, described the situation as unfortunate, emphasizing the need to protect female representation in the Senate.
“In the last Assembly, we had nine female senators. We don’t want to see a decline in that number,” she said.
“We will work towards resolving this issue peacefully by engaging all stakeholders and urging them to temper justice with mercy.”
However, harassment allegations in the Nigerian Senate are not new. One of the most controversial incidents occurred in July 2016, during a closed-door session of the Senate, when a heated exchange ensued ybetween Senator Dino Melaye and Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Reports indicated that Melaye, who was representing Kogi West at the time, allegedly threatened to assault and impregnate Tinubu, who was then representing Lagos Central.
According to multiple sources, Melaye was quoted as saying he would “beat up” and “impregnate” her, remarks that were widely condemned as sexist and inappropriate.
Tinubu, who is now Nigeria’s First Lady, accused Melaye of making threatening and demeaning comments toward her. She described the incident as an act of verbal assault and intimidation, claiming that Melaye even attempted to physically attack her during the altercation.
Melaye, however, denied the allegations, insisting that he never physically assaulted Tinubu.
He argued that his words were taken out of context and dismissed the controversy as a political disagreement rather than an issue of harassment.
Despite the outrage that followed the incident, no disciplinary action was taken against Melaye, and the Senate did not officially sanction him.
Women leaders react to Akpabio-Natasha controversy
Hajiya Fatima, the All Progressives Congress (APC) women leader in Kano, in an interview with DAILY POST described the controversy as unfortunate and damaging to the image of women in politics.
She acknowledged that the issue could discourage more women from joining politics, especially in Northern Nigeria, where cultural and religious factors already limit female participation.
“Allegations like this paint a negative picture of women in politics. It reinforces the wrong perception that women cannot handle leadership positions without facing harassment or intimidation,” she said.
However, Fatima noted that the APC had made efforts in the past to support women’s inclusion, particularly under the administration of former Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.
“During Ganduje’s time, women were given more opportunities. But things have changed now, and we need more policies to encourage women,” she added.
She recalled that during Ganduje’s tenure, his wife advocated a 60-40 representation policy favoring women. Which means that women should be higher than the men in positions because women are trustworthy and even the votes come more from women.
Hajiya Fatima emphasized that when a woman is determined to accomplish something, she does it well. She noted that since women play a significant role in election campaigns and contribute to electoral victories, they should not be sidelined when political positions are being allocated. Unfortunately, she added, that is not the case today.
Also, Hajara Ado Alhaji, the NNPP women leader in Shanono Local Government Area, acknowledged that harassment and intimidation were common tactics used to sideline women in politics.
She, however, revealed to DAILY POST that having spent over 30 years in politics without significant progress, she attributed the challenges faced by female politicians to favoritism and party politics.
“I have been in politics for decades, but I still don’t know where I stand. The system favors those with connections, not those with capacity,” she lamented during an interview with DAILY POST on Wednesday.
Political analyst speaks on Akpabio-Natasha’s controversy
Hassan Ibrahim, a political analyst, in an interview with DAILY POST described the controversy between Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as a troubling development with serious implications for the integrity of the Senate and public confidence in the institution.
“This issue is not just about two individuals,” Ibrahim stated.
“It has the potential to cast a shadow over the entire Senate as an institution. The Legislature is a key arm of government, elected by the people to make laws and represent their interests. When such allegations emerge especially involving the Senate President, it raises serious concerns about the sanctity of the Senate and the democratic process.”
Regarding Senator Natasha’s allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio, Ibrahim noted that the claims must be handled carefully to avoid undermining public trust.
“These are heavy allegations. Whether true or false, they need to be addressed urgently to clear any doubts and ensure that the institution remains credible,” he said.
“Sexual harassment allegations like this can make things even harder for women in politics. If such issues keep coming up, many women especially from the North will be discouraged from participating due to societal and family pressures,” he explained.
Despite this, he commended Senator Natasha for speaking out.
“What Natasha did by bringing this issue to light might encourage more women in politics to speak up about their experiences,” he said.
Ibrahim further highlighted the financial burden as a major obstacle for women seeking political offices.
“Politics in Nigeria is very expensive. The cost of nomination forms alone is discouraging. The major political parties, especially the ruling APC and the main opposition PDP, have set their nomination fees so high that many women cannot afford them,” he noted.
He also pointed out that even women who can afford the costs are often discouraged by party politics. “Even if a woman buys the form, there is always the fear that she won’t be nominated because of godfatherism and internal party politics,” he explained.
Beyond financial barriers, Ibrahim emphasized that women in politics face intimidation and harassment.
“A lot of women who contest elections face threats and intimidation. Some are pressured into making compromises. That is why many capable women shy away from politics,” he said.
When asked why Northern Nigeria has fewer female politicians compared to the South, Ibrahim pointed to cultural and educational barriers.
“In the North, women are traditionally expected to stay within the domestic sphere, limiting their exposure to public life. Even highly educated women often avoid politics due to societal restrictions,” he said.
He emphasized that education and economic empowerment are key to increasing women’s participation.
“Without education, women cannot play any key role in politics. The good news is that more Northern women are now attending schools, but we need to do more to encourage their involvement in governance,” he stated.
He praised the Jigawa State governor’s policy of providing free education for females from primary to tertiary levels, describing it as a positive step toward creating a level playing field for women to compete and participate in politics.
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enforce policies that support female politicians.
“INEC should ensure that political parties reserve a certain number of positions for women. This will help increase female representation in government,” he added.
“Political parties should also consider granting waivers for female politicians. Additionally, parents should instill leadership qualities in their daughters from an early age, encouraging them to believe that they can excel and even outperform their male counterparts,” he concluded.
[DailyPost]
