The Federal Government has pledged to intervene in the crisis surrounding the suspension of Kogi Central Senatorial District representative, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, by the 10th Senate.
Speaking on Friday during the Meet-the-Press Programme at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Iman Suleiman-Ibrahim, emphasized the need for a peaceful resolution.
“We are engaging all stakeholders to ensure that justice is tempered with mercy,” she stated.
Natasha’s suspension has sparked widespread criticism, with several women-led organizations condemning the action as a deliberate attempt to stifle female voices in leadership.
The Coalition for Women in Governance, alongside Women in Management, Business, and Public Service, has warned of a large-scale protest if the decision is not reversed.
Addressing the media in Abuja, coalition leader Zainab Mohammed criticized the Senate’s move, calling it a violation of democratic principles and judicial authority.
“The Senate’s decision is not just an injustice against one woman; it is an attack on the democratic rights of the people she represents. This sets a dangerous precedent for anyone who dares to challenge authority,” she said.
She further pointed out that the suspension defied a court order that explicitly prohibited disciplinary actions against Natasha, labeling the move illegal.
Meanwhile, Suleiman-Ibrahim expressed concern over the impact of Natasha’s suspension on female representation in the Senate, highlighting that the last Assembly had nine women and that further reductions would be discouraging.
“We don’t want to see a decline in female participation in the Senate. This is why we are working to broker peace,” she explained.
She also revealed that Senate President Godswill Akpabio had shown openness to dialogue, citing his remarks during the recent International Women’s Day event at the National Assembly.
“The Senate President said, ‘We’re open to broker peace,’ and that’s exactly what we intend to do. We will mediate between both parties to restore harmony while promoting cooperation between men and women in governance,” she added.
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Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months after she accused Senate President Akpabio of sexual harassment, an allegation she first raised on February 28.
The Senate, however, dismissed her petition on procedural grounds, with the ethics committee recommending her suspension, citing that her actions had brought disrepute to the legislative body.
As the controversy continues, calls for her reinstatement grow louder, with women’s advocacy groups pushing back against what they describe as a suppression of accountability and gender representation in politics.
