“Nigerian Senate is similar to cult”

Nigerian senator, who claimed to be sexually persecuted one of the country’s leading politicians, said the BBC that the Senate was working as a “cult”.

Two weeks ago, Natasha Akpoti-Uduard was dismissed six months after the submission of the motion stated that she was being persecuted by the Senate President of the Acpabio, which he denies.

His office also rejected the iconic comparison – the last turn in a row, which covered Nigeria, raising questions about gender equality in the socially conservative nation.

Akpoti-Udugle said she was punished for a speech against the system, and that she was afraid for her and the safety of two years when her security details were deprived.

“The Nigerian Senate works as a cult. The President of the Senate manages the Senate as a dictator, not a democrat. There is no freedom of speech, there is no freedom of expression of utterance, and the one who dares to go against it is reduced by size,” the 45-year-old boy said in the first television interview after her suspension.

In his statement, the BBC Deputy Chief of the Senate, Whip Onyekachi Nwebonyi said that the Senator of the Akpoti-Uuduog is not silent and “her own legislative activity disputes this statement.”

Akpoi-Kuduaghan, represented by the Democratic Party of Opposition Peoples (PDP), claimed that sexual harassment began in 2023 when she visited the house of the Akpobio with her husband.

She said that the Akpabio “squeezed her hand” and said, “I will make us the opportunity to come here and have a good moment.”

Nwebonyi, who says he was also present during the visit, said: “By no means during this period, the Senate president made any unwanted sexual progress to the Senator of the Akpoti in his country house.”

But the Akpoti-Uduogle claimed that it was only one incident and that the persecution continued for several months.

She said that when with other Senators on the Senate, the Akpabio spoke on the effect: “Natasha really enjoys, it seems you can make good movements with the waist.”

“The Senate President said this,” said Akpoi -ud -ud BBC.

“He makes very sexy statements, then they (senators) laugh. He says we are all men in the Senate, she must get used to it.”

For his part, Nveboni said the allegations were “completely false”.

Nigeria has one of the lowest number of parliamentarians in Africa.

Akpoi -uduaghan is one of four women in parliament with 109 members and she is also the first female senator in her state.

Her petition against the Akpabio was rejected by “procedural errors”.

Then, on March 6, the ethics committee handed over the six months of suspension to the Ethics, citing “naughty and devastating” behavior during the Senate discussion.

Akpoi-Uuduaghan said BBC that as a result of the suspension it no longer had safety access.

“In the Nigerian space we had people in the last decades that have been killed for strong views against the government,” she said.

“If I lead my baby for a walk – because I have a two -year -old girl – will I kill me? Will I attack me?”

Civil groups in the country have expressed concern about the treatment of Akpoti-Uudogan, calling for a transparent investigation into her allegations.

“Everything we can say is what is today the sad day for Nigerian women who are fighting for release. Of the 109 senators, only four women are women, and one is now rejected,” said the Hadiz Women’s Rights when the suspension was imposed.

While groups of rights and some social media users expressed support for Akpoi -uduaghan, she also has her own share of detractors.

After being rejected, two groups of participants of the rally, who gathered near the parliament in the capital, Abuja – one support for the Senate president, and the other in support of his colleague, chanting “” Akpabio must go. “

Akpoi -uduaghan was also pressed by the misery abuse of social media after being charged, she said the BBC.

The scandal is the last episode in a political career that was from the beginning.

Akpoi-Uuduaghan first ran for Kogi Governor in 2019 and claimed that her candidacy had been challenged in connection with the mixed race.

In the end, she appeared on the newsletter, but during her campaign was subjected to physical and oral attacks.

In 2023, she ran in the Senate and lost the election. The poll was marred by violence, and after the Akpoti-Uuduog took the case, the result of the election was canceled.

“I thought the worst was over,” she said the BBC.

“But for a woman I guess it’s never over? These are just different parts, different sections.”

Akpoi-Kuduaghan has taken legal action in trying to cancel its suspension and plans to appeal again to the Senate with their sexual harassment allegations.

Despite her great emotional fee, she said she did not regret it.

She said she feels that she was encouraged by her husband, child and a lot of fans outside her family, which include political women from other African countries.

“I called the women who connect with me daily and tell me they feel the same in the parliament, but that they cannot speak,” she said.

“They say Natasha, do it for us. This is my story, and my story in many women in Nigeria who have no courage to speak.”