By Bashir Aliyu
Abuja – Nigeria– Former Chairman of the Nigerian-American Public Affairs Committee (NAPAC USA), Mr. Ike Chidolue, has criticized Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for taking Nigeria’s domestic matters to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in New York, describing her actions as a breach of parliamentary ethics and national sovereignty.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, Chidolue argued that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s decision to air Nigeria’s internal disputes at the IPU was not a pursuit of justice but a quest for spectacle.
“Justice must be pursued through truth and due process, not performance and sentiment,” Chidolue stated. “Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan did not seek justice; she sought spectacle. Her actions abandoned due process for drama, national loyalty for foreign sympathy, and responsibility for ambition.”
Chidolue expressed concern that the suspended senator’s actions could distract international development partners from addressing urgent issues in Nigeria. He described her decision to publicly indict the leadership of Nigeria’s Parliament at the IPU as a “reckless gamble” with the country’s diplomatic credibility.
“Her actions transcend mere political grievance,” he said. “They represent a serious breach of parliamentary ethics, an affront to national sovereignty, and a dangerous precedent where personal grievances are paraded as national advocacy.”
A Question of Mandate and Ethics
Chidolue questioned Akpoti-Uduaghan’s presence at the IPU meeting despite her suspension, noting that she attended in a self-sponsored capacity. He emphasized that as a suspended senator, she had no mandate to speak on behalf of the National Assembly.
“International platforms like the IPU recognize only sovereign parliamentary representations, not individuals seeking sympathy,” he said. “Her act of broadcasting internal disputes on foreign soil is not only unethical; it is a calculated betrayal of legislative cohesion and a misrepresentation of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.”
He further argued that parliamentary norms and national loyalty dictate that grievances should be addressed through internal mechanisms, such as the Senate Ethics Committee, Nigerian courts, party leadership, or the Women Senators Forum. Instead, Akpoti-Uduaghan bypassed these channels, opting to air unproven allegations on a global stage.
“By branding Nigeria’s Senate as lawless and abusive, she has severely eroded public trust, damaged Nigeria’s international standing, and fed toxic narratives about our nation’s governance,” Chidolue said.
IPU: A Forum for Dialogue, Not a Court
Chidolue clarified that the IPU is a forum for dialogue, not a court, and criticized Akpoti-Uduaghan for dragging a domestic disciplinary matter to the international stage while litigation is ongoing in Nigeria.
“Her actions were a calculated emotional maneuver, not a pursuit of justice,” he said. “By indicting the Senate without evidence while under suspension, she sought to bypass legal scrutiny and provoke public sympathy abroad.”
He warned that such conduct could encourage other lawmakers to exploit global platforms to blackmail national institutions, thereby weakening Nigeria’s sovereignty and compromising national security.
“This reckless approach opens the door for others to weaponize international platforms for personal gain, undermining Nigeria’s diplomatic credibility and national integrity,” Chidolue concluded.
