President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Dr. Tulia Jackson, has stated that the organisation will listen to both sides before taking any action on the case presented by suspended Nigerian lawmaker Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against the Senate and its President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Natasha raised her concerns during the Women in Parliament session in New York on Tuesday, calling for justice and intervention from global democratic institutions.
She described her suspension from the Senate as illegal and alleged that she could face repercussions from influential figures in Nigeria for speaking out internationally.
Her suspension followed a heated exchange with Akpabio over a new Senate seating arrangement, which she argued was unfair to her. The situation escalated when Akpabio refused to acknowledge her contributions at plenary because she was not speaking from her reassigned seat.
The controversy deepened after Natasha appeared on national television, accusing the Senate President of punishing her for rejecting his alleged sexual advances. She later submitted a petition detailing claims of sexual harassment against Akpabio. Shortly after, the Senate suspended her for violating its seating arrangement rules.
Speaking at the IPU meeting, Natasha insisted her suspension was politically motivated. “I was suspended illegally because I submitted a petition of sexual harassment against the President of the Nigerian Senate,” she said.
In response, Dr. Jackson acknowledged her concerns but emphasized the need for a fair review. “We have heard her concerns, and having heard her, it would be an opportunity for all of us to understand more about what she has said because we listened only to her side. As an institution, as the IPU, we will be taking the concerns that have been raised, not only taking her side but also giving a chance to listen to the other side, as it is a custom of the IPU. And after having listened to the other side, we will take steps as necessary.”
She added that it was important to clarify the matter before concluding the session to ensure that IPU members did not leave with a one-sided understanding of the case.
