Chairman of the Nigerian stakeholders forum , David Adeoye, stated that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has the right to speak, but taking her case to the United Nations (UN) seems unnecessary. He emphasized that the issue should be resolved within Nigeria, following due process and Senate procedures to uphold national integrity. The Nigerian Stakeholders Forum is a committed organization dedicated to promoting social well-being, fostering economic empowerment, and addressing systemic inequalities affecting the Black community in Manchester and across the UK.
For more than six weeks, the heated dispute between Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio has dominated headlines. However, instead of de-escalating, tensions have continued to rise, culminating in Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s appeal to the United Nations for intervention.
The controversy originally stemmed from a Senate seating arrangement change, which Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged was designed to sideline and silence her. The issue took a dramatic turn when she publicly accused Senate President Akpabio of retaliating against her for rejecting his alleged sexual advances.
Following these claims, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions conducted an investigation. On March 6, the Senate dismissed the sexual harassment allegations and subsequently suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan Escalates the Matter to the United Nations
Dissatisfied with the Senate’s decision, Akpoti-Uduaghan took her case to the United Nations, addressing the Women in Parliament session during the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting in New York.
She called for international intervention, urging the UN to hold the Nigerian Senate accountable for what she described as political victimization.
“I have been unfairly suspended for standing up for justice. This is a clear attempt to silence me, and I will not apologize for seeking fairness and transparency,” she declared at the UN session.
She further labeled her suspension illegal and unconstitutional, arguing that it was a punishment for demanding a fair investigation into her allegations.
However, the Nigerian Senate strongly refuted these claims, stating that her suspension had nothing to do with sexual harassment allegations but was instead based on gross misconduct.
Kafilat Ogbara, Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, also dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims. She revealed that the National Assembly had instructed her to present an official response at the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.
“The suspension was strictly due to misconduct within the Senate chamber, not because of any external issue. The rules of the Senate must be upheld,” Ogbara stated.
The international spotlight on this case has generated mixed reactions from Nigerian stakeholders in the UK, with some supporting Akpoti-Uduaghan’s move while others believe the issue should have been resolved locally.
Speaking to The New Daily Prime, David Adeoye, Chairman of Nigerian Stakeholders UK, argued that taking the matter to the UN was unnecessary and could harm Nigeria’s global reputation.
“I don’t understand why she escalated it internationally. This is an issue that should have been handled within Nigeria’s political and legal system. Why take an internal matter to a foreign body? That’s where I personally draw the line,” Adeoye stated.
However, he acknowledged her right to demand justice, adding:
“From a legal perspective, she has the right to be heard, especially if she has made an allegation. But she was also given an opportunity to apologize, which she refused.”
Adeoye further stressed that as a representative of Nigeria, she should have fought for justice through local mechanisms rather than internationalizing the issue.
“As lawmakers, they should be able to resolve matters internally. The United Nations is meant for global peace, security, and human rights, not for internal Senate disputes.”
Addressing the seat arrangement dispute, Adeoye emphasized that freedom of speech must be exercised within legal boundaries.
“Everyone has the right to speak freely, but it should be within the law. If she violated any Senate rules, the Senate has the power to address it fairly. The real issue here is whether due process was followed.”
He also emphasized that if the Senate followed the proper procedures, then the outcome was inevitable.
“If the correct legal process was followed, then this result was unavoidable. The Senate must have a clear system in place for managing seat allocations and disciplinary actions,” he added.
The Senate’s defense, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s appeal to the UN, and the divided opinions from stakeholders continue to fuel a national and international debate.
Her supporters argue that seeking international intervention was necessary to expose power abuse and gender discrimination within Nigeria’s political system. However, critics insist that escalating domestic issues to global platforms weakens Nigeria’s sovereignty and institutions.
With the UN now aware of the situation, the key question remains: Will international pressure influence Nigeria’s Senate, or will this move backfire on Akpoti-Uduaghan’s political career?
The coming weeks will determine whether the UN takes any action or if the case remains an internal Nigerian political battle.
