Few political observers are surprised by how an in-chamber disagreement over Senate seat rearrangements has escalated into a recall process against Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, along with allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Internationally, this situation is increasingly seen as an orchestrated effort to deny a woman justice for speaking out. The controversy began when the Kogi Central Senator protested a perceived breach of her privileges after her seat was changed without prior notice. She alleged that this move was part of a broader scheme to undermine her legislative effectiveness and deny her constituents proper representation. Frustrated, she voiced her concerns on a radio station in Abuja and later on television, where she accused Senate President Akpabio of making sexual advances toward her. Akpabio swiftly denied the allegations, while his wife, Nnoma, escalated matters by filing a defamation lawsuit against Natasha in the Federal High Court. In response to Natasha’s actions, the Senate revisited the events of February 20 and the controversy surrounding the seat rearrangement. The result was a six-month suspension for Natasha. Claiming injustice and lack of due process, she sought international attention by allegedly attending a meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in New York, where she lodged her complaint against Akpabio. However, the Senate viewed her presence at the IPU meeting as a violation of protocol. Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs, stated that Natasha had no official authorization to attend or speak at the session. He further explained that the IPU only considers petitions from member states, not individuals, rendering Natasha’s complaint baseless in that forum. As tensions mounted, Natasha claimed the Senate was planning to arrest her upon her return to Nigeria. While the veracity of this claim remains uncertain, she has taken her story to international media outlets such as Sky News and the British Television Network, where she emotionally recounted her allegations against Akpabio. Meanwhile, back home, discontent within Natasha’s constituency grew. Reports surfaced that her constituents were gathering voter signatures to initiate a recall process. While some dismissed the move as unrealistic, others argued that Natasha needed support, not a recall, during this tumultuous period. Despite conspiracy theories surrounding the process, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed receiving over 250,000 signatures from Natasha’s constituents and formally notified her of the recall attempt. Through her lawyer, Victor Giwa, Natasha accused INEC of bias, arguing that the commission had initially deemed the petition defective due to missing contact information and other formalities but later chose to act on it. An investigation revealed sharp divisions among her supporters. While Natasha previously enjoyed broad support within her constituency, many now appear to have distanced themselves from her due to the fallout from her confrontation with the Senate. Who is Natasha? Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was relatively unknown in Kogi Central during her childhood. She returned in 2000 to undertake philanthropic projects before entering politics. According to retired schoolteacher Mrs. Fati Amodu, Natasha was academically gifted but not widely recognized beyond her immediate community. To her loyal supporters, she embodies resilience and progress. They see her as following in the footsteps of her late father, Dr. Jimoh Abdul Akpoti, who was known for his medical practice and community service. They admire her as a role model for overcoming adversity and breaking barriers for women in politics. Her critics, however, see her as overly ambitious, lacking diplomatic finesse, and unable to navigate political challenges maturely. Criticism of her personal life has also surfaced, with detractors pointing to her two failed marriages. Supporters counter that divorce is common and should not define her. Mr. Ganiyu Aliyu, a constituent, noted that Natasha’s first marriage was to Oseni Saliu, a cousin of Bishop Haruna Yakubu, but ended due to alleged abuse. Her second marriage to Saka Babamba also ended under undisclosed circumstances. She is now married to High Chief Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan, a union that many see as a testament to her resilience. Public opinion remains divided. Some argue that Natasha has been an exceptional representative and that her recall would be unjust. Others believe the controversy surrounding her has become too distracting and that her time in the Senate should come to an end. At her family home in Obeiba-Ihima, life goes on as usual. A close relative remarked, “Our daughter has tried. If they want to remove her, let her come back home. God knows everything, and our people know she has been good to them.” The debate about Natasha’s fate has shifted from private discussions to public discourse, with both sides expressing their views freely on social and traditional media. One of her constituents, Victor Daniel, posted on Facebook, “I’m deeply sentimental about Natasha. She’s not just my Senator – she’s from my village, and we come from the same clan.” Whether Natasha’s political career survives this storm remains to be seen. For now, she continues to fight against what she perceives as injustice, while her critics push forward with efforts to see her recalled from the Senate.
