How I got access to attend IPU meeting – Senator Natasha

Suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has addressed the controversy surrounding her recent participation in the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in New York, clarifying that she attended without seeking authorization from the Nigerian Senate.

The embattled lawmaker spoke to an online news platform following reports that intelligence agencies were investigating her presence at the global parliamentary forum. This probe reportedly stemmed from a petition filed by the Senate.

Defending her attendance, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan explained that she registered for the event online and received approval as a previous participant who remains on the IPU’s official mailing list.

She also disclosed that the funding for the trip was personally borne by her.

She maintained that her suspension by the Senate did not remove her legitimacy as an elected Senator.

“I registered online as a Senator. The suspension does not remove my legitimacy as a Senator. I registered online and got a pass.

“I attended the same programme last year and was already on the mailing list. After I got a pass, I bought my own ticket and funded my trip and participation at the event,” she said.

She explained that her past participation in a meeting organised by the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) played a role in her accreditation.

The suspended lawmaker stressed that IPU events are not exclusively reserved for government officials, adding that accredited individuals and civil society organisations are also free to attend such events.

Maintaining that her suspension from the Senate was illegal, Natasha insisted that the sanction did not strip her of her legitimacy as an elected senator.

She added that she attended the IPU meeting in her official capacity and spoke as a legitimate representative of her constituents.

Abujapress reports that the Senate, in suspending Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan about two weeks ago, had resolved to strip her of any official function pending the suspension period, among other punitive measures.