The Senate has suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, for six months following her dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The decision was announced during Thursday’s plenary after the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions recommended the suspension.
The committee’s report cited her allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio as a key issue in the matter. As part of the sanctions, the committee also advised that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s salary and security details be withdrawn.
The suspension comes amid heightened tensions in the Senate, stemming from a heated exchange between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio on February 20 over changes in seating arrangements within the Senate chamber. The Kogi lawmaker had earlier claimed that her difficulties in the Senate began after she rejected advances from Akpabio and subsequently filed a formal sexual harassment petition. However, the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges declined to hear the petition, citing procedural breaches.
The decision to suspend Akpoti-Uduaghan has sparked mixed reactions, with some lawmakers supporting the move as a necessary measure to maintain decorum, while others view it as an attempt to silence dissent.
