A coalition of more than 350 Nigerian women’s rights organisations has filed an urgent complaint with the United Nations, accusing the Nigerian Senate of systemic gender-based discrimination and retaliation after Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan accused the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, of sexual harassment.
The petition, addressed to the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls, Reem Alsalem, called on the UN to intervene to protect Akpoti-Uduaghan’s rights and to hold Nigeria accountable under its obligations to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, alleged on February 20 that Akpabio harassed her—an allegation Akpabio has denied. Within days, the Senate suspended her for six months for what it termed “misconduct,” stripping her of salary, security, and access to the chamber. Women’s advocates denounced the suspension as a reprisal meant to silence her.
On July 4, the Federal High Court in Abuja declared the suspension unconstitutional and called for her reinstatement. Yet more than two months later, the Senate has refused to allow her return, citing procedural delays and claiming the judgment is “still under litigation.”
“This is a clear attempt to intimidate women in politics and to undermine judicial authority. By ignoring the court’s decision, the Senate is sending a dangerous message that women who speak out will be punished,” said Dr. Abiola-Akiyode-Afolabi, Convener of the Womanifesto coalition and Executive Director of the Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre.
The petition urged the UN to: demand Akpoti-Uduaghan’s immediate reinstatement with full rights and protections, press Nigeria to guarantee her safety and freedom from reprisals, call for an independent and impartial investigation into the harassment allegations, and recommend institutional reforms to ensure fair complaint processes within the National Assembly.
Signatories include: Amnesty International Nigeria, Baobab for Women’s Human Rights, FIDA Nigeria, Women in Management Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), and Stand to End Rape (STER).
Activists warn the case could have a chilling effect on women’s political participation. “This is not just about one senator. It is about the credibility of Nigeria’s democracy and the safety of every woman who dares to speak up,” the complaint stated.
The UN Special Rapporteur’s office has not yet issued a response. But international attention is growing, and rights advocates say the case will test Nigeria’s commitment to gender equality, judicial independence, and protection from gender-based violence at the highest levels of government.