- After her Senate suspension following unnotified seating arrangements and a sexual harassment accusation against Akpabio, Natasha took her battle to the UN’s largest human rights gathering.
- Her move sparked backlash, but voices like Korra Obidi, Jaywon, and others rallied behind her, applauding her bold defiance.
Some celebrities have thrown their weight behind suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as she takes her fight with Senate President Godswill Akpabio to the global stage, addressing a United Nations forum.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, was suspended on March 6 for 6 months after a fiery clash with Akpabio over a controversial Senate seating arrangement, which she claimed was a deliberate attempt to sideline her.
The tension erupted further when she went on national television, alleged that Akpabio’s real motive was to punish her for rejecting his alleged sexual advances.
Seizing the global stage, Akpoti-Uduaghan addressed the Women in Parliament session at the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting in New York, demanding international scrutiny of what she described as political victimization and intimidation.
“This is a clear case of political victimisation for speaking against corruption and gender-based violence. The United Nations Declaration defines sexual harassment as a form of gender violence.
“The Senate’s action is an assault on democracy. I was elected by my constituents to represent them, but powerful men have unilaterally silenced their voices by suspending me for six months,” she said in parts
A viral video of her speech ignited fresh debates, with critics and supporters clashing over her bold defiance.
Amid the uproar, US-based Nigerian dancer and singer Korra Obidi, who has had her own turbulent experience with harassment claims against her ex-husband Justin Dean, publicly expressed love for Akpoti-Uduaghan, encouraged her to keep speaking up.
Singer Jaywon also backed Senator Natasha, called her move a victory despite attempts to silence her. More voices joined in, fueling the growing conversation around her case.
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