SENATOR Jimoh Ibrahim, representing Ondo South Senatorial District, has dismissed the petition filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan regarding her suspension from the Senate, stating that the Interparliamentary Union (IPU) cannot consider it. According to him, only member states, not individuals, have the right to file petitions with the IPU. As such, Natasha’s petition holds no weight within the organisation’s framework.
Providing further clarification on the workings of the IPU, Ibrahim explained that Nigeria, as a nation, is the recognised member of the union, not any individual legislator. He stressed that a petition can only be filed by one member state against another, making Natasha’s attempt invalid from the outset. His statement was aimed at dismissing any expectations that the IPU would intervene in her suspension case.
In a report by Daily Post, Ibrahim, who previously served as the interim President of the IPU in Geneva in 2023, asserted that he had first-hand knowledge of the organisation’s procedures. He emphasised that Natasha, as a suspended senator, has no official standing in the IPU and cannot represent Nigeria in any capacity. This, he argued, further invalidates her petition and makes it legally insignificant.
As the Chairman of the Interparliamentary Committee in the Nigerian Senate, Ibrahim also revealed that he did not authorize Natasha to attend any IPU meetings on behalf of Nigeria. He pointed out that such representation would typically require approval, which she did not have. His statement reinforced his position that Natasha’s petition lacked legitimacy within the international parliamentary framework.
In his words, “as Chairman of the Interparliamentary Committee in the Nigerian Senate, I did not approve or authorize the suspended Senator Natasha to attend the IPU on behalf of Nigeria to the Senate President.”
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