UN Inter-Parliamentary Union Responds to Natasha’s Suspension Complaint, Vows Action on Akpabio’s Senate
After hearing from Senate President Godswill Akpabio regarding the complaint filed by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has committed to taking all required action.
According to reports, Natasha brought Akpabio before the IPU regarding her six-month suspension and claims of sexual harassment.
Natasha told the IPU about her alleged abuse by Akpabio during the Women in Parliament event at the UN in New York.
In a moving address, Natasha demanded that international democratic institutions step in and that her expulsion from the Nigerian Senate was unfair and illegal.
In response to her grievance, IPU President Tulia Ackson stated that the organization would first listen to Akpabio before proceeding.
“There was an issue that came up during the first session that we had this morning,” Ackson stated. Sen. Natasha, our Nigerian colleague, brought up the issue, and since we all heard her, it would only benefit us if I added a few words to what she said.
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As an institution, IPU will be taking the concerns that have been raised, not only taking her side but also giving the other side a chance to be heard, as is customary for IPU. I would like to say that we have heard her concerns, and that hearing her would have given us all a chance to understand more about what she has said. However, we only listened to her side. And after hearing the opposing viewpoint, we will take the appropriate action.
“I believed it was essential that we discuss it briefly before moving forward. After listening to the other side, we will be able to take action. In other words, we have taken care of, or taken the worries that she made, and we will be working on them.
“I also acknowledge that our Nigerian representative, who is present, asked to speak, honorable cavid, but she was not given the opportunity due to time constraints.
As I previously stated, we have listened to Senator Natasha’s concerns, but we have also acknowledged that you would have wanted to speak to us, but there was not enough time for us to offer you that opportunity.
Having stated that, IPU will handle this issue as we typically do when such issues are brought up in meetings like this one.
