Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, has accused the leadership of the Nigerian Senate of orchestrating a plot to suspend her in an attempt to silence her.
In an interview with Human Rights Radio on Friday, the lawmaker claimed she has been subjected to continuous intimidation and harassment since joining the Senate.
“I know that right now, they are planning my suspension. If I am suspended, fine, it will not stop me from doing my work wherever I can,” she said.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations come after a heated exchange with Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Thursday over the reassignment of her seat in the Senate chamber. She described the move as a deliberate effort to sideline her and minimize her visibility during legislative sessions.
“Changing my seat was just a way of silencing or alienating me from being seen. Sitting position is important. The nearer your seat is to the cameras, the better your chances of being called upon to contribute to debates,” she stated.
She further revealed that she had already been placed at the back of the chamber, but recently was moved to an even more isolated spot—one where the cameras don’t capture.
“I was suddenly moved to the far corner without any notice or explanation. It’s a part where the cameras don’t capture,” she explained.
Akpoti-Uduaghan also accused the Senate of excluding her from major international events and denying her official travel privileges. She alleged that she was removed from a Senate committee after colleagues falsely accused her of diverting resources from the Niger Delta to the North.
“I’m facing a lot of harassment. Many of my privileges have been denied. I have been pulled out of several international activities that I was originally a part of,” she said.
The senator further claimed that her name had been struck off from a United Nations event she had been nominated for and that she has been forced to personally finance her international engagements.
“Every international event I have attended since last year has been self-sponsored. Whenever I see an event that is important to my constituents, Nigerian women, and the country, I buy my own tickets and fund my trips myself. I just don’t speak about it,” she added.
