In Nigeria, a senator named Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been suspended for six months after she accused the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, of sexually harassing her. This means she is not allowed to take part in any Senate activities for that period, and her office will be locked.
The issue started when Senator Uduaghan spoke about the alleged harassment in an interview last Friday. She later submitted an official complaint, but the Senate’s ethics committee rejected it, saying it did not follow the proper rules. Instead of investigating her claims, the committee recommended suspending her, arguing that she had embarrassed the Senate.
Some senators wanted her suspension to be reduced to three months, but the majority agreed to keep it at six months. This decision has sparked a lot of reactions across Nigeria. Many people, including women’s rights activists, are upset and say this is unfair treatment.
Hadiza Ado, a well-known activist, called it “a sad day for Nigerian women.” She pointed out that out of 109 senators, only four are women, and now one of them has been suspended. Many women on social media are also angry, calling the suspension an act of oppression.
Meanwhile, outside the National Assembly in Abuja, two groups of protesters gathered—one supporting Senator Uduaghan and the other backing Senate President Akpabio. Some people chanted, “Akpabio must go,” while others defended him.
Despite her suspension, Senator Uduaghan says she will continue to fight for justice. She believes that what happened to her is unfair and should not be ignored. Many Nigerians are now calling for a full and transparent investigation into her claims.
