Na wah o! The Nigerian Senate don suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, wey dey represent Kogi Central, for six months. Dis suspension come after di senator accuse Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment and abuse of office. According to di Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, Natasha no follow di Senate Standing Rules (2023 as dem amend am) well well, and as result, dem decide sey she go pay di price.
For di plenary session wey happen for Abuja on March 6, 2025, Natasha come dey protest as dem comot her seat and her nameplate. As she dey try talk, dem turn off her microphone and di sergeant-at-arms come escort am comot from di chamber. Before she comot, she shout, “This injustice will not be sustained,” wey show sey she no gree make dem put her suspension pass without fight.
Di Senate suspension no be small matter o. Along wit di suspension, di committee order sey her office go dey locked down for di entire period, and she must hand over all Senate properties wey dey her possession. In addition, di committee don decide sey her salary, allowance, and even di salary of her legislative aides go comot during di suspension period. All dis na to make sure sey di Senate show say rule and decorum dey important for di chamber.
Some senators, including Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, support di disciplinary action, talk sey na im e go help maintain order for di Red Chamber. Dem also add sey if Natasha wan make dem consider lifting or reduce her suspension, she go need submit one written apology to di Senate. This one show say di Senate no dey play with matter of ethics and discipline.
Di incident don cause plenty gbege inside and outside di Senate. While some people dey hail di decision sey na correction for bad behavior, other people dey hail am as political move wey dey target Natasha for her vocal protest. As di controversy dey continue, many Nigerians dey wonder how dis suspension go affect di Senate’s image and di struggle for better gender representation for di Nigerian legislature.
For now, Natasha remain determined, as she continue to talk sey injustice no go ever win. Di battle don turn hot for di Nigerian political scene, and many eyes dey watch as di matter dey unfold.
