Godswill Akpabio

By Fatimah Yusuf Usman

The political exclusion of women in Nigeria has once again come to the fore with the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Her alleged offense? Speaking up. Her punishment?

A swift and harsh six-month expulsion from the Senate, her office sealed, salary cut off, and access to the National Assembly revoked. Her ordeal began when she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, an allegation that was neither investigated nor given a fair hearing.

Instead, the Senate’s Ethics Committee moved with unusual speed to shut her out. This raises an urgent question. Is there space for women in Nigerian politics beyond tokenism, or must they submit and endure injustice to survive?

Sexual harassment remains a global crisis, yet many societies, including Nigeria, prefer to sweep it under the carpet. Worldwide, one in three women, about 736 million, has experienced physical and or sexual violence.

But when victims muster the courage to speak up, they are often met with disbelief, scrutiny, or punishment. Natasha’s case is no different. Rather than handling the matter with fairness and transparency, the Senate wasted no time in punishing her.

A six-month suspension without pay seems less like a disciplinary measure and more like a warning to women in politics. Know your place or face the consequences. If this can happen at the highest levels of government, what hope is there for the ordinary Nigerian woman facing harassment in her workplace, school, or community?

Women in Nigeria’s political space face a glass ceiling reinforced with steel. Out of 109 senators, only a handful are women, a stark reminder of the gender imbalance that continues to define governance in the country.

And when women like Natasha refuse to conform to the unwritten rules of submission, the system moves to silence them. But even as she was escorted out of the Senate chambers, Natasha refused to be broken.

“This injustice will not be sustained,” she declared. Her words are a rallying cry, not just for herself, but for every woman who has been silenced, sidelined, or denied justice. The idea that politics is a “man’s world” must be dismantled.

Nigeria cannot claim to be a democracy while women’s voices are suppressed. Gender equity in governance is not a privilege. It is a right. The Senate’s handling of this case has only reinforced the perception that powerful men can get away with anything while women who dare to challenge them are punished.

If Natasha’s case has taught us anything, it is that the struggle for women’s political inclusion is far from over. But if we do not confront this now, when will we? How long will women continue to be punished for demanding dignity, fairness, and equal representation?

This is no longer just about Natasha. It is about every woman who has been ignored, intimidated, or denied justice. If we allow this injustice to stand, we send a dangerous message that a woman’s voice does not matter. But we refuse to accept that.

We stand with Natasha. We stand with every woman who has been silenced. And we demand justice, not just for her, but for all of us.

Fatimah Yusuf Usman is a Corps Member serving at PRNigeria Centre, Abuja. can be reached via: fatimahborkono@gmail.com

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

In a decisive move, the Nigerian National Assembly (NASS) has suspended Senator Natasha for six months following recommendations from the Ethics and Public Petitions Committee.

The suspension, which takes effect from March 6, comes after the senator stood up for her rights during a Senate session.

The committee has mandated that Senator Natasha must submit a written apology before she can resume her duties.

Additionally, her office will remain locked throughout the suspension period, and she is barred from entering the NASS complex. Her salaries, allowances, and security details have also been suspended for the duration of her penalty.

Furthermore, Senator Natasha is prohibited from representing herself as a senator in both local and international media during her suspension.

This development has sparked widespread debate, with critics labeling the punishment as excessive and indicative of deeper governance issues in the nation.

As Africa’s most populous black nation, Nigeria continues to grapple with political controversies, and this incident has further fueled discussions about transparency and accountability in its leadership.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Nigerian Senate has criticized Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, for her remarks about the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, regarding seat allocations.

On Thursday, Akpoti-Uduaghan refused to accept the new seat assigned to her, citing her right to protection under the Senate’s Rule 10.

The dispute arose after her seat was changed following the defection of some opposition senators to the ruling party.

However, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan rejected the move and accused the Senate leadership of attempting to silence her.

“I have no problem if they take away my right to speak. I am not afraid of you. You are denying me my rights,” she said, addressing the Senate President.

As tensions escalated, Akpabio ordered security personnel to remove her from the Senate chamber, but some senators intervened to de-escalate the situation.

Reacting to the incident in an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu said that the National Assembly is not a place for entertainment.

“What we are saying is that the National Assembly is not a place for creating entertainment or play. It is a place for serious legislative work,” he stated.

Regarding Akpoti-Uduaghan’s accusation of rights infringement, Adaramodu explained that, despite being a new senator, she had been assigned significant leadership roles in the Senate.

“If she is claiming that her rights are being denied or that she’s being prevented from speaking, as a new senator, she has been given three major committee leadership roles. Every senator is entitled to lead one committee, but she is now leading foreign affairs and NGOs,” he added.

The Senate spokesman further mentioned that the matter would not be revisited, as Senator Isah Jubril from Kogi had apologized on behalf of Akpoti-Uduaghan.

“The Senate has fully accepted this apology, and so the matter will not be reopened,” he said.

By Anwar Usman

Tensions flare-up in the Senate on Thursday after Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan exchange words with the leadership over a seating arrangement dispute.

The issue started when Akpoti-Uduaghan’s seat was reassigned following a reshuffle prompted by opposition members moving to the majority wing which she refused to abide by.

The Chief Whip of the house, Senator Tahir Monguno, explained the Senate rules to justify the change, and stated that seat adjustments were under the authority of the Senate President.

He also warned that non-compliance could lead to penalties, including exclusion from Senate debates.

The president of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio supports Monguno’s order and denied Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan the floor when she attempted to speak from her old seat.

In response to that, the Kogi lawmaker raised her voice, accusing the leadership of trying to silence her.

She stated that “I don’t care if I am silenced. I am not afraid of you. You have denied me my privilege”.

The standoff intensified when the Senate President directed the sergeant-at-arms to remove her.

However, with the help of some lawmakers calmness was restored, although Akpoti-Uduaghan stand firm in her refusal to move.