Women Groups Petition UN Over Akpoti Suspension

A coalition of women’s rights organisations has taken the case of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension to the United Nations, accusing the Nigerian Senate of gender-based discrimination and abuse of power.

The coalition, operating under the name Womanifesto and representing over 350 groups, submitted a petition dated October 22 to Reem Alsalem, UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls. The groups argued that the suspension violated Nigeria’s commitments under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, had in February accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, a claim he rejected. Shortly afterward, the Senate committee on ethics and privileges recommended her suspension for alleged breaches of parliamentary procedure. The decision removed her pay, security, and access to the chamber.

In July, the federal high court in Abuja ruled the suspension excessive and urged her reinstatement. Despite the ruling, the Senate has refused to comply, claiming the judgment contained no binding reinstatement order and that the matter remains under litigation.

The petitioners said silencing a lawmaker who raised harassment concerns sets a dangerous precedent for women in politics and weakens Nigeria’s democratic institutions. They called on the UN to press the Nigerian government and Senate to enforce the court ruling, guarantee Akpoti-Uduaghan’s safety, and create an impartial inquiry into her harassment claim.

The petition also demanded broader reforms, including independent complaint channels within the National Assembly to handle cases of harassment.

Amnesty International Nigeria, FIDA Nigeria, Baobab for Women’s Human Rights, WIMBIZ, and Stand to End Rape (STER) were among the groups that endorsed the petition. The signatories described the case as proof that harassment in politics undermines women’s full participation in governance.

Pressure on the Senate has also grown outside Nigeria. On September 9, Gambian lawmaker Fatoumatta Njai, chair of the gender and children’s welfare committee of the Gambian parliament, urged Akpoti-Uduaghan’s reinstatement, describing the suspension as excessive and unconstitutional.