Lifestyle
Untold Facts About Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
By Gideon Ayeni
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been a prominent figure in Nigerian politics, known for her activism, legal career, and the ongoing controversy in the Senate.
Representing Kogi Central in the 10th National Assembly, Natasha has gained attention for both her legislative work and her ongoing battle with the Senate leadership. Here are key things to know about her:
- Her Background and Education
Natasha Hadiza Akpoti-Uduaghan was born on December 9, 1979, to a Nigerian father from Kogi State and a Ukrainian mother. She was raised in Ihima, Okehi, Kogi State. Akpoti-Uduaghan obtained a Law degree from the University of Abuja in 2004, proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, and was called to the bar in 2005. She later earned an MBA in Oil and Gas Management from the University of Dundee, Scotland, in 2012.
- Her Legal and Advocacy Career
Between 2007 and 2010, Akpoti-Uduaghan worked as legal counsel at Brass LNG before founding the Builders Hub Impact Investment Program (BHIIP) in 2015. She gained national recognition in 2018 when she presented a report to the National Assembly exposing corruption in the Ajaokuta Steel Mill. Her advocacy for the revival of Ajaokuta earned her a Presidential Award from the Nigerian Society of Engineers in 2017.
- Her Entry into Politics
Akpoti-Uduaghan first contested for the Kogi Central senatorial seat in 2019 under the Social Democratic Party (SDP) but lost. She later ran again in 2023 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and won, making history as the first female senator from Kogi State.
- Controversy and Suspension from the Senate
In February 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, claiming the incident occurred on December 8, 2023. The matter escalated when she found her nameplate removed from her designated seat in the Senate chamber. Following a series of clashes with the Senate leadership, she was suspended for six months on March 6, 2025, for alleged misconduct, including refusing to sit in her reassigned seat and making “abusive remarks” against Senate leadership.
- International Appeal and Public Reaction
Despite her suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan has refused to apologize, instead taking her case to the United Nations. She spoke at the Women in Parliament session during the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting at the UN in New York, calling for international scrutiny of the Nigerian Senate’s handling of her allegations. Civil society groups, including the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties and the Coalition of National Civil Society Organizations, have condemned her suspension, demanding a fair investigation into her claims.
- Her Personal Life
Akpoti-Uduaghan is married to Emmanuel Uduaghan, and they tied the knot on March 5, 2022, in Ihima, Kogi State. She is a mother of three children.
- Calls for Reinstatement
Her suspension has sent the social media abuzz, with public figures and women’s rights activists criticizing the Senate’s actions. Some argue that her suspension is unconstitutional, citing past court rulings that have declared the arbitrary suspension of elected lawmakers illegal.
As the controversy continues, Akpoti-Uduaghan remains defiant, with many Nigerians closely watching how this political standoff unfolds. Will the Senate reconsider its stance, or will the battle between her and the leadership escalate further?
(With additional information from Wikipedia)
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