The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and the Coalition of National Civil Society Organizations (CNCSOs) have jointly condemned the Nigerian Senate’s suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, calling it a malicious and hurried attempt to silence a vocal female lawmaker. In a strongly worded statement, both groups dismissed the Senate’s justification for the six-month suspension as deeply flawed and orchestrated to punish the senator for daring to submit a petition alleging Sexual Harassment against the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
According to the groups, the Senate’s conduct is blatant bias, political intimidation, and a deliberate violation of due process. They claim that the suspension and the removal of the senator’s official Security detail are acts of political retaliation intended to discourage other lawmakers—especially women—from taking similar steps. They cautioned that such a decision undermines the fundamental norms of parliamentary accountability and sends a harsh message that dissent and whistleblowing will be met with severe institutional backlash.
Underlying tension grows as controversy unfolds.
This whole showdown erupted when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, filed a petition accusing the Senate President of sexual harassment. The lawmaker’s audacious move immediately triggered friction in the upper legislative chamber and set off an intense political and moral confrontation. Rather than permitting an independent investigation into the accusations, the Senate quickly took action against the complainant. According to CNCSOs and CNPP, this alone casts a shadow over the integrity of the process.
They also denounced the fact that Senator Akpabio, the subject of the allegation, presided over the session during which his accuser was disciplined. From their viewpoint, the entire affair exhibits a troubling lack of objectivity and implies a deliberate attempt to silence Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan. The groups contended that the Senate’s choice to move forward with the disciplinary procedure in violation of an existing Federal High Court order prohibiting it was more concerning. They asserted that this represents a slide into institutional lawlessness and raises grave questions regarding Nigeria’s democratic governance and rule of law.
Both groups demand impartial probe and justice.
Senate leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who publicly defended the Senate’s decision, has also faced criticism. Political observers and members of civil society have mocked his attempts to rationalize the suspension. According to CNPP and CNCSOs, Bamidele’s justifications fail to acknowledge the obvious conflict of interest, the violation of court orders, and the broad ramifications of stifling a female senator who brought up significant ethical issues. They see his justification of the Senate’s conduct as an effort to legitimize impunity while claiming parliamentary discipline.
Beyond condemnation, the groups have issued clear demands, including that Senator Godswill Akpabio resign as Senate President immediately in order to enable an impartial and open inquiry into the claims of sexual harassment. They are also calling for the constitution of a new, expanded probe panel—one not compromised by internal Politics or conflicts of interest—and are demanding that proceedings be broadcast live to ensure full public accountability. To drive home their seriousness, the groups have issued a seven-day ultimatum for Senator Akpabio to announce his recusal.
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Failure to do so, they warn, will trigger a mass mobilization of Nigerians for a sustained occupation of the National Assembly. They revealed plans to unite Nigerians nationwide and engage international allies, including women lawmakers in the United States Congress and the United Kingdom Parliament. The case has reignited scrutiny of Senate President Akpabio’s past, with civil society groups citing unresolved allegations from his time as Governor of Akwa Ibom and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs. These include budget padding, mismanaged funds, and sexual harassment claims. The groups warn that ignoring the current issue would reinforce Nigeria’s entrenched Culture of shielding powerful men from justice.