A group, the Igbo Progressive Women, has urged security agencies to investigate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recent appearance at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting, expressing concerns that her actions could be aimed at embarrassing the Nigerian government on the global stage.
Their statement follows Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claim that plans were underway to arrest her upon her return to Nigeria.
The senator, who attended the IPU session in New York on March 11, had raised issues regarding her suspension from the Senate and allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
“I’m aware there are plans underway to have me arrested as soon as I arrive Abuja,” she stated while still in the U.S.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Chief Mrs. Grace Ohabuenyi, President of the Igbo Progressive Women, accused the senator of unnecessarily escalating the matter and suggested that she might be backed by certain interests seeking to undermine the country’s reputation.
The group called for a thorough probe into her participation in the IPU session, questioning how she was able to attend despite her suspension.
“We took notice of the statement issued by our sister, Mrs. Unoma Akpabio, when this matter started, wherein she disclosed that both her family and that of Senator Natasha are family friends. One then wonders why she never mentioned the alleged harassment to the Senate President’s wife, a family friend, but only chose to go public after she went against Senate rules,” Mrs. Ohabuenyi said.
The group also expressed concerns that her actions could negatively impact women’s representation in politics.
“We have been clamoring for women to hold significant positions in government, but incidents like this set back our efforts toward inclusivity,” the group added, insisting that her actions appear targeted not just at the Senate President but at the federal government as a whole.
They urged security agencies to investigate the circumstances surrounding her trip to the IPU, stating that the issue requires urgent attention.
