Supporters of embattled Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Ochiga-Ihima community in Kogi State are urging President Bola Tinubu to step in and resolve her ongoing dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over seat reallocation.
The group also called on Kogi State Governor Ahmed Ododo, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies to reinstate Akpoti-Uduaghan’s security details. They argued that removing her protection leaves her vulnerable to political opponents and potential threats.
In a statement signed by the secretary of the Ochiga-Ihima Descendants Union, Alhaji Abdul-Aziz Sani, the kinsmen demanded an independent investigative body to handle the matter fairly. They claimed the Senate Ethics Committee lacked the credibility to conduct an impartial investigation, stating, “The odds are heavily stacked against Natasha.”
They also called for an immediate reversal of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension, rejecting any demand for her to apologize as a condition for lifting the punishment. They urged the Senate to uphold its integrity rather than pressuring her into submission.
Similarly, Every Woman Hope Centre (EWHC), a women’s rights organization, has demanded a fair and transparent investigation. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, EWHC’s Founder and Executive Director, Mrs. Edel-Quinn Antisesbu, condemned what she described as a lack of due process in handling the senator’s case.
She stressed that any proven wrong doing should be addressed, but Akpoti-Uduaghan deserves a fair hearing. The group also criticized her suspension, arguing that it not only silences a female lawmaker but also deprives Kogi Central of proper representation.
Expressing concerns over gender inequality in politics, EWHC described the situation as a “reflection of Nigeria’s entrenched culture of silence and stigmatization against women.” To push for justice, the group announced plans to mobilize women for a solidarity march.
