The President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Tulia Ackson, has assured suspended Nigerian senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, that the organization will take action after listening to both sides of the issue.
During the Women in Parliament session at the IPU meeting, Senator Natasha spoke about her suspension and called on international democratic institutions to address what she described as political victimization.
She explained that she was suspended on March 6, 2025, after submitting a petition accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment. Instead of receiving a fair investigation, she said she was punished.
Her suspension came with harsh consequences, including:
- The removal of her security
- Withdrawal of her official vehicles and entitlements
- Suspension of her salary
- A ban from being near the National Assembly for six months
She described these actions as an attempt to silence her and prevent women from holding leadership positions in Nigeria.
Following her speech, IPU President Tulia Ackson acknowledged her concerns and assured that the IPU would not act based on one side of the story. She stated that the organization would first listen to the other parties involved before taking necessary steps.
Ackson also mentioned that another Nigerian delegate had requested to speak on the issue but did not get the chance due to time constraints. However, she reassured everyone that the IPU would carefully handle the matter.
The IPU’s decision to investigate further before taking action suggests that the case is not over. For now, all eyes are on how the international body will handle the situation and whether justice will be served.
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