The controversy surrounding Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and her subsequent suspension from the Senate shows no signs of abating.

On Tuesday, the suspended Kogi senator took her case to an international platform, seeking justice at the Women in Parliament session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting at the United Nations in New York.

Senator Natasha was suspended for allegedly violating Senate rules just days after she filed a petition accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment and other misconduct—claims the Senate President has vehemently denied.

Addressing the gathering, she described her suspension as illegal and called for intervention from global democratic institutions.

“I was suspended illegally because I submitted a petition for sexual harassment against the President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio. I expected that, in response, he would recuse himself and that we would both submit to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for a fair, transparent investigation. Instead, I was silenced and suspended,” she said.

“This means I am here illegally, but I have no other option but to speak to you because this is part of a bigger picture. It reflects the crisis of women’s political representation. My suspension is not just about me; it highlights the systemic exclusion of women from political leadership in Nigeria,” the Kogi senator added.

Following her speech, Senator Natasha expressed concerns for her safety, claiming that powerful individuals in Nigeria might attempt to detain her in New York in retaliation for speaking out on the global stage.

Her suspension has sparked widespread debate across Nigeria. The Senate initially dismissed her petition against Akpabio before ultimately suspending her after she filed a follow-up complaint.

Despite her suspension, Senator Natasha has vowed to continue her fight against what she describes as injustice. Akpabio, for his part, has denied all allegations, maintaining that he has never engaged in any form of sexual misconduct.

Their public altercation dates back to 20 February 2025, when her Senate seat was reassigned during plenary. This was not the first time the two clashed. In July 2024, Akpabio reprimanded her for alleged misconduct, reminding her to follow Senate rules and asserting that the chamber was not a nightclub where anyone could speak without decorum. He later apologised for the remark.