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From Idu Jude, Abuja
The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) and a coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) have filed a save-our-soul (SOS) letter to the United Nations (UN) requesting the protection of Nigerian women in politics.
The group, in a letter addressed to the UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, the CNPP, and the CSOs under the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs) have called for urgent intervention to uphold justice and protect women in Nigerian politics.
The letter, jointly signed by James Ezema, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the CNPP, and Alhaji Ali Abacha, National Secretary of the coalition, highlights the challenges faced by female politicians in a male-dominated political environment.
The coalition expressed concerns over what they described as a calculated effort to undermine Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s credibility. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has been at the centre of controversy following her allegations of sexual harassment and abuse of power against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
The letter read: “We urge the United Nations to disregard the recent protest march to its premises, led by a group identified as Women for Change Vanguard, which we believe was orchestrated to discredit Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and trivialise her weighty allegations.”
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The coalition further emphasised the systemic challenges faced by women in Nigerian politics, citing the rushed recommendation of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions. They noted that the committee’s chairman, Neda Imasuen, has been reported to have been disbarred for life in the United States for professional misconduct.
“This blatant disregard for due process is a typical example of the systemic challenges faced by women in Nigerian politics. We implore the United Nations to ignore any protest aimed at undermining Akpoti-Uduaghan’s quest for justice and to stand firmly in support of her rights,” the letter read.
The coalition also highlighted the importance of protecting women’s rights in politics, referencing international conventions, such as the Convention on the Political Rights of Women (CPRW) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
“We trust that the United Nations will act decisively to uphold justice, protect women in Nigerian politics and send a clear message that the voices of women will not be silenced by intimidation or disregard for the rule of law,” the letter concluded.
The CNPP and civil society coalition had issued a seven-day ultimatum for Akpabio to step aside as senate president to allow for an independent investigation into the allegations. They also warned that failure to comply would result in mass protests and mobilisation of international bodies and Nigerians in the diaspora, as well as female lawmakers in the US and UK, to pressure the Nigerian government.
