Nigerian senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has accused the Senate leadership of attempts to silence and intimidate her, claiming that moves are underway to suspend her from the upper legislative chamber.
Speaking on Human Rights Radio on Friday, the Kogi Central senator alleged that she has faced harassment since joining the Senate, including a sudden reassignment of her seat and exclusion from key international events.
“I know that right now, they are planning my suspension. If I am suspended, fine, it will not stop me from doing my work wherever I can,” she said.
Her remarks followed a confrontation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Thursday over what she described as a deliberate effort to reduce her visibility in the chamber.
Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was abruptly moved to a corner of the Senate chamber where cameras do not capture her, limiting her opportunities to contribute to debates.
“Changing my seat was just a chance to silence or alienate me from being seen. Sitting position is important. The nearer you sit, the more visibility you have, and it increases your chances of being called upon to contribute,” she stated.
The senator further alleged that she has been denied travel privileges and removed from a Senate committee over concerns from some colleagues that she was “diverting resources from the Niger Delta to the north.”
“I have been pulled out of many international activities that I was part of. There was a United Nations event I was nominated for, but my name was struck out. They will not promote me in any activity internationally,” she claimed, adding that she has since been self-funding her international engagements.