Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, has alleged that her suspension from the Nigerian Senate on March 6 was premeditated and politically motivated rather than a spontaneous reaction to her conduct.
Speaking in an interview with Adeola Fayehun on YouTube last Saturday, the embattled lawmaker rejected claims that she was suspended for causing a scene over seating arrangements, describing such narratives as false.
"The impression being circulated is that I caused a scene over my seat. That is false. I raised a matter of privilege under Chapter 4, Item 9b of the Senate Rules—a provision that demands immediate attention. But the Senate President cut me off, ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove me, and directed the Clerk to begin preparing my suspension letter. That wasn't a reaction; it was a pre-written script," Senator Natasha stated.
The senator further alleged that her suspension was connected to her refusal to comply with what she described as "demands" from Senate President Godswill Akpabio, whom she accused of overstepping his authority.
"He has no authority to unilaterally suspend any senator on the floor. The way he handled it—like I was a staff member in his living room—was not only unlawful but also degrading. My reaction was in response to a decision he had clearly already made," she explained.
In what appears to be a significant revelation, Senator Natasha disclosed that her suspension came just one day after she submitted a formal petition against the Senate leadership.
"I believe my suspension was retaliatory. The ethics report they cited was merely a smokescreen. I had submitted allegations that shook the system, and the next day, I was silenced," she alleged.
The senator's suspension has drawn attention to the internal workings of Nigeria's upper legislative chamber and raised questions about due process in parliamentary disciplinary procedures.
Neither Senate President Akpabio nor the Senate leadership has responded to these specific allegations at the time of this report.