The camp of Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said that the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has no authority to summon him over the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the National Assembly.
Akpabio’s media aide, Eseme Eyiboh, made this clear in an exclusive interview with The Punch on Wednesday, emphasizing that the issue remains an internal parliamentary affair.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently serving a six-month suspension, had accused Akpabio of sexual harassment and abuse of power.
On Tuesday, she took her case to the IPU, a United Nations agency, seeking intervention against the Nigerian Senate and Akpabio.
Following her complaint, the IPU stated that it would need to hear from Akpabio before taking a stance on the matter.
However, in his response, Eyiboh insisted that the Senate President was under no obligation to honor any invitation from the IPU, stating,
“They don’t have the authority to do that. It is an internal affair of the National Assembly. Akpabio can’t be forced to honor an IPU invitation.”
He further accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of acting in contempt of court, questioning why she sought IPU intervention after allegedly obtaining a court order.
“What she is trying to do is dent the image of Nigeria, which is worrisome. The IPU cannot interfere in the internal affairs of a sovereign state like Nigeria. It will be very embarrassing,” he added.
When asked whether Akpoti-Uduaghan could face further sanctions for her actions, Eyiboh refused to speculate.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, was suspended on March 6 after a confrontation with the Senate President over a seating arrangement she claimed was intended to undermine her.
The dispute escalated when she publicly accused Akpabio of political victimization and alleged sexual advances.
Speaking at the Women in Parliament session during the IPU meeting in New York, she called for international intervention, citing the withdrawal of her security, salary cuts, and her suspension from the Senate.
