Petition To Recall Senator Natasha And The INEC Response

Senator Natasha’s Suspension 

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Nigeria has been suspended for six months by the Senate after submitting a petition accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment. Her accusations, initially made in an interview, have sparked significant controversy.

Initially, the Senate dismissed her petition on procedural grounds, and the ethics committee recommended her suspension, stating she had brought public attention to the National Assembly. Some senators suggested a shorter suspension, but the majority voted in favor of the six-month suspension.

The Senate claimed her suspension was a result of her unruly and disruptive behavior during a session, not the harassment allegations. However, many women’s rights activists, including  Hadiza Ado, have strongly criticized the decision, calling it a setback for Nigerian women.

Ado described the day of the suspension as sad for Nigerian women, pointing out that women make up only a small percentage of the Senate, and one of them is now suspended.

The accusations against Akpabio have led to widespread discussions across Nigeria, with calls for a transparent investigation into the claims. Protests erupted in Abuja, with one group supporting Akpabio and another demanding his removal.

Many on social media, particularly women, expressed their anger, describing the suspension as oppression.

 During her suspension, Senator Natasha was barred from National Assembly premises, and her office will be locked.

The situation has sparked wider conversations about the treatment of women in politics and the need for accountability in cases of sexual harassment.

Activists and those in support of Senator Natasha hope that the investigation into her allegations will proceed fairly and that the case will highlight the broader issues of gender inequality and the treatment of women in Nigerian politics.

Petition To Recall Senator Natasha And The INEC Response

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)  in its response, acknowledges the petition for the recall of the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District.

The petition includes six bags of documents with signatures from over half of the district’s registered voters. However, INEC notes that the petitioners failed to provide a definite contact address and complete contact details as required by its regulations.

The move to recall the senator follows her initial suspension by her party over allegations of misconduct and anti-party activities, which sparked political tensions in the district.

INEC emphasizes that the recall process will follow strict legal procedures, including signature verification using the BVAS system.

The Commission is working to notify the petitioners of the issue and will announce the next steps once compliance is met. The public is urged to disregard social media speculations.