The coalition of Nigerian women’s rights groups has filed an urgent complaint before the United Nations, accusing the Nigerian Senate of systemic gender-based discrimination and reprisals against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central.
In a petition dated September 22, 2025, signed by the Convener of Womanifesto, Nigeria, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, and addressed to Reem Alsalem, the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls, the coalition under the banner Womanifesto said that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has been unlawfully barred from resuming her legislative duties despite a court ruling in her favour.
The controversy stems from Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s public accusation on February 20, 2025, that Senate President Godswill Akpabio sexually harassed her.
However, the Senate leadership suspended her for six months in March, citing misconduct, and the suspension elapsed in September.
Although the Federal High Court in Abuja declared the suspension unconstitutional on July 4, 2025, the Senate has refused to reinstate her.
This newspaper on September 9 reported that the Clerk to the National Assembly told Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan that her suspension from the Senate could not be addressed until the judicial process was concluded and formally reviewed.
In a letter dated September 4, signed by the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, the Senate claimed that the issue of her suspension remained subjudice.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had written to the Clerk on August 28, notifying the Senate of the expiration of her six-month suspension period.
She stated that she is entitled to resume her duties as a Senator and requested access to her office and facilities.
She reminded the Clerk that despite the judgment of the Federal High Court delivered on July 4, 2025 which held that “my suspension was excessive and unconstitutional, subsequently directing the senate to recall me to resume my legislative duties, I was denied entry into the National Assembly complex on the 21st day of July, 2025 on the grounds that the Senate President filed an appeal to the Court of Appeal against my resumption.
“I write to formally notify you on my decision to resume my legislative function upon the expiration of the suspension period.”
She further stated, “Notwithstanding that the Senate is currently be on recess, I hereby formally request that arrangements be made to grant me immediate access to my senatorial office upon expiration of the suspension on 4th September, 2025.”
The Senator argued that her suspension was legally limited to six months and that, with the period now elapsed, her full rights and privileges as a lawmaker should be automatically restored.
She further demanded immediate reinstatement, insisting that adequate arrangements be made to guarantee her unhindered access to her office and legislative facilities.
According to the petitioners, the decision of the Senate to block Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming her constitutional duty amounts to “retaliation for reporting sexual harassment” and a “denial of effective remedy and judicial enforcement.
The coalition, Akiyode-Afolabi of the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), argued that the Senate’s actions “violate Nigeria’s obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and other international instruments.”
The coalition raised concerns of “Retaliation for reporting sexual harassment; failure to provide an independent, impartial investigation; denial of effective remedy and judicial enforcement, and systemic discrimination creates a hostile environment for women in politics.
In the petition, Womanifesto, which represents over 350 women’s rights advocates, practitioners, and activists, urged the UN Special Rapporteur to, “Urgently communicate with the Government of Nigeria and the Senate to ensure the immediate reinstatement of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and protection from reprisals.
“Guarantee her protection from reprisals. Issue a public statement of concern highlighting reprisals against women parliamentarians.
“Recommend institutional reforms to ensure impartial investigations and protections against retaliation.”
The coalition noted that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s case reflects systemic discrimination and reprisals against a woman legislator for reporting sexual harassment.
“Special Rapporteur, this case reflects systemic discrimination and reprisals against a woman legislator for reporting sexual harassment.
“I urge your office to take immediate action to ensure Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s reinstatement, protection, and access to justice,” Akiyode-Afolabi stated.
Source: SaharaReporter
