The Federal Government has announced its intervention in the ongoing leadership crisis in the National Assembly following the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Iman Suleiman-Ibrahim, made this known on Friday during the Meet-the-Press Programme at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, stating that efforts were underway to ensure a fair resolution to the matter.
According to Suleiman-Ibrahim, the government is engaging all relevant stakeholders to ensure that justice prevails while also appealing for leniency. She emphasized that the issue must be handled with care, given its broader implications for female representation in politics.
Her statement comes just a day after the 10th Senate suspended Natasha for six months following her petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, in which she alleged sexual harassment.
Natasha first raised the allegations on February 28, but the Senate dismissed her claims on procedural grounds. The Senate Ethics Committee then recommended her suspension, arguing that she had brought the upper chamber into disrepute.
Suleiman-Ibrahim described the incident as unfortunate and said it should not have happened, particularly given the already low number of female senators in the National Assembly.
She noted that in the previous Assembly, there were nine female senators, and expressed concern that the current controversy could further discourage women from participating in politics.
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to brokering peace, highlighting that Senate President Akpabio had expressed willingness to engage in dialogue.
She recounted that during a recent visit to the Senate for International Women’s Day, Akpabio had stated that the Senate was open to a peaceful resolution, giving hope that mediation could succeed.
However, the suspension has triggered widespread outrage among women’s rights activists and civil society organizations, who have condemned it as an assault on democracy and an attempt to silence women in leadership.
Various groups, including the Coalition for Women in Governance and Women in Management, Business, and Public Service (WIMBIZ), have rejected the Senate’s decision and are demanding Natasha’s immediate reinstatement.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, coalition leader Zainab Mohammed denounced the Senate’s action as a blatant disregard for the rule of law. She argued that Natasha’s suspension defied a court order that had explicitly barred any disciplinary measures against her, making the Senate’s action both illegal and a direct attack on democratic principles.
Mohammed warned that the coalition was prepared to mobilize women for a massive protest if the suspension was not overturned, stating that the Senate’s decision was not just an injustice against one woman but an attack on the democratic rights of the people she represents.
The silence of the three other female senators in the National Assembly has also sparked criticism from women’s rights advocates. Dr. Jophia Gupar, President of the Pan-African Young Women Development Initiative, expressed disappointment that they had not spoken out in support of Natasha.
She argued that the issue was not just about Natasha as an individual but about all Nigerian women, warning that such silence could have far-reaching consequences for gender equality in politics.
She called on the female senators to consider the long-term impact of their inaction, stating that they had daughters and that there was always a price to pay for ignoring injustices.
Meanwhile, WIMBIZ has demanded that Natasha be given a fair hearing, expressing concern that she was being punished without due process.
In a statement on Friday, the organization said Natasha’s suspension highlighted the ongoing challenges that women in leadership face in Nigeria. WIMBIZ noted that there had been no public indication that the Senate had conducted a proper investigation into Natasha’s claims, yet she was facing severe institutional pushback.
As the world marks International Women’s Day, WIMBIZ called for urgent action to accelerate gender equality and ensure that women are not silenced for speaking up.
Public backlash against the suspension is also gaining momentum, with over 13,000 Nigerians signing a petition demanding that Akpabio step down to allow for an independent investigation.
The petition, launched on Change.org by the Purple Women Foundation and led by gender advocate Ireti Bakare-Yusuf, has drawn significant attention, reflecting the growing public anger over the Senate’s handling of the situation.
As the controversy continues to escalate, all eyes are now on the National Assembly to see whether the Senate will reverse its decision or if the protests and petitions will force a change.
The Federal Government’s involvement could be a turning point, but the ultimate outcome remains uncertain.