Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, who represents the Ondo South Senatorial District, has stated unequivocally that the Interparliamentary Union (IPU) cannot evaluate the plea that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan filed regarding her Senate suspension, according to the Daily Post. Ibrahim, who is well-versed in the International Parliamentary Union’s (IPU) workings, pointed out that the IPU recognizes Nigeria as a member state rather than as a single senator. Because of this, the IPU can only reply to petitions that member states have filed.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
As a global organization, the International People’s Union (IPU) only accepts petitions that are submitted against member states from other member nations, according to Ibrahim, who stated this in a statement that he made to the Daily Post on Friday, March 14, 2025. It was highlighted by him that the petition submitted by Akpoti-Uduaghan would not be considered by the IPU because it was an individual action against the government. The member of parliament made it abundantly clear that a petition of this nature was “dead on arrival” and would not be accorded any consideration by the international organization.
After serving as the interim President of the International Press Union (IPU) in Geneva in 2023, Ibrahim offered his expertise of presiding over the organization’s activities in order to provide greater clarification regarding the functioning of the IPU. He brought to light the fact that only member nations possess the capacity to file official petitions against other states. This implies that individual senators, such as Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, are unable to submit petitions to the International Parliamentary Union on their own behalf.
It was also made clear by the senator from Ondo that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who had been suspended, was not permitted to represent Nigeria in the International Parliamentary Union. Ibrahim, in his capacity as Chairman of the Interparliamentary Committee in the Nigerian Senate, has validated that he did not give his approval or authorization for Akpoti-Uduaghan to attend meetings of the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) on behalf of the nation.
He asserts that Senator Natasha, who has been suspended, is not a member of the International Political Union (IPU), but Nigeria is! Furthermore, the Senator who has been suspended shall not be permitted to represent the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As a result of my experience as the interim President of the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Geneva in 2023, I am familiar with the functioning of the IPU because I presided over its sessions.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
