Nigerian Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has accused the Senate of operating like a “cult,” claiming she was suspended for speaking out against its leadership. The 45-year-old lawmaker, who represents the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was suspended for six months after submitting a petition accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment an allegation he denies.
In an interview with the BBC, Akpoti-Uduaghan described the Senate as a space where dissent is not tolerated. “There is no freedom of speech, there is no freedom of expression, and anyone who dares to go against [Akpabio] gets cut to size,” she said.
She alleged that the harassment began in 2023 when she visited Akpabio’s country home with her husband, claiming he squeezed her hand suggestively and implied they should spend time alone together. She further accused Akpabio of making inappropriate comments about her body in the Senate chamber, saying he often made sexist remarks, which male senators laughed off.
The Senate has dismissed her claims. Deputy Chief Whip Onyekachi Nwebonyi stated that the allegations were “completely false” and that her suspension was due to “unruly and disruptive” behavior during a Senate debate.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only four female senators in the 109-member chamber, has faced a backlash on social media, including misogynistic abuse. She has also lost access to her security detail, leaving her and her two-year-old child vulnerable. “In Nigeria, people have been killed for having strong views against the government,” she said, fearing for her safety.
Civil rights groups have condemned her suspension, calling for an independent investigation into her claims. Women’s rights activist Hadiza Ado lamented, “Out of 109 senators, only four are women, and now one is suspended.”
Despite the challenges, Akpoti-Uduaghan remains defiant, vowing to challenge her suspension and refile her petition. She says women across Africa have reached out to her, sharing similar experiences but lacking the freedom to speak up. “My story is that of many women in Nigeria who do not have the courage to speak up,” she said.
