The report has it that the controversy could be traced to seat arrangement, which involved Natasha’s refusal to comply with a routine seat reassignment, which was implemented for various senators as a result of defections of opposition lawmakers to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
The altercation rose to a peak when Natasha announced alleged Sexual harassment of her by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
Upon investigation by members of the Senate, Natasha was suspended for 6 months with claims of misconduct.
Read Also: Senate Suspends Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan For Six Months
Natasha, however contested this by tabling the matter before the Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU, an international organization of national parliaments that promotes democratic governance, accountability and cooperation among its members.
The crisis has since caused national embarrassment for the country as a whole.
Rédíò Afínjú correspondent, Mozeed Salam was on the streets of Osogbo, the State capital, to seek people’s opinion on the punishment that the Lawmaker was served and how the crisis could be resolved.
One of the residents, Adepoju Tajudeen, frowned at Natasha’s presentation of the matter to the members of IPU as nothing but a national embarrassment while adding that Nigeria is a sovereign country and issues like this should be discussed locally without any international interference.
He further frowned at Senator Natasha’s six-month suspension while stressing that the upper chamber had also violated the law, which stated that a senator should not be suspended for 14 days.
In the same vein, Bamigbaye Mohammed noted that despite the suspension being a means of correcting Natasha as every organization has stipulated rules and codes, he opined that the punishment should have been for just a month or two.
He also advised that a neutral body should be set up to critically investigate the alleged sexual harassment between Akpabio and Natasha.
Meanwhile, Suleiman Surajudeen expressed belief that there was a close encounter between Natasha and Akpabio, which became sour, thereby prompting the misunderstanding.
He further affirmed that this is not the first sexual harassment allegations against Godswill Akpabio and, however, advised Natasha to remain calm even as lawmakers and the 3 other female counterparts have deserted her.
However, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has sued Senate President Godswill Akpabio over what it described as the patently unlawful suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Rédíò Afínjú will keep you abreast of information as it unfolds…