Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan says officials blocked her from leaving the country again, reigniting concerns about the treatment of powerful women in Nigerian politics.
In a troubling incident that raises serious concerns about the rule of law and gender in politics, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan shared that her international passport was seized at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. She explained that immigration officers stopped her while she was preparing to travel abroad.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan said she had no pending court order restricting her movement. Yet authorities withheld her travel documents without a clear legal justification. She livestreamed the tense encounter, showing her attempts to question the officers as they avoided providing any formal reason for the seizure.
After delays and growing public attention, her passport was eventually released — an experience she described as both humiliating and politically motivated. This incident reveals a disturbing pattern of intimidation targeted at women who challenge entrenched political power and refuse to remain silent.
A pattern of restriction and political pressure
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan stated that this was not the first time authorities had obstructed her travel. She also detailed a previous encounter with travel officials acting without clear legal justification or explanation. She alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio ordered the intervention, as punishment for speaking out against past mistreatment.
The senator repeatedly clashed with leadership since early 2025, after accusing Akpabio of making unwanted sexual advances and abusing his position. The Senate ethics committee dismissed her petition and suspended her for six months for what it described as “misconduct.”
Supporters and several advocacy groups viewed the suspension as politically motivated, describing it as retaliation for daring to challenge a senior figure in government. These events have further contributed to growing public concern about the systemic barriers faced by women who challenge powerful institutions in Nigeria.
The passport incident now appears to be part of a wider pattern of intimidation designed to silence a vocal female lawmaker who refuses to stay quiet in the face of injustice.
Read also: Senate blocks Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s attempted return to legislative duties
Why this matters for women in power
Denying a sitting senator’s travel rights without legal grounds raises questions about selective enforcement and institutional misuse of power. The situation becomes even more troubling when the senator in question is a woman who previously accused a man in power of wrongdoing.
Women in Nigerian politics already navigate a hostile environment. They navigate intimidation, online abuse, and limited institutional support compared to their male counterparts. Episodes like this reinforce the perception that women who challenge authority risk being punished through administrative or procedural harassment. The recurrence of these actions underscores how difficult politics can be for women in positions of authority.
The road ahead for equity and reform
The repeated targeting of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan reveals a deeper structural problem. And this problem goes beyond individual conflict or partisan rivalry within the National Assembly. Nigeria’s institutions must strengthen transparency and legal safeguards to prevent the misuse of administrative power for political retribution.
Ensuring fairness and due process for all legislators, regardless of gender, is vital to restoring confidence in governance. Women in power should not have to weigh the cost of their safety and freedom against their right to serve the public.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s experience captures a broader truth about Nigerian politics. It reveals that progress remains uneven, and women who confront authority still face disproportionate resistance. Until this system changes, equality in public life will continue to be an aspiration rather than a shared national standard.
Read more: Staying neutral in the face of injustice is complicity, here’s why choosing a side matters
