Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has accused the leadership of Nigeria’s Senate of orchestrating the revocation of her foreign visa — a claim that has stirred controversy in political and civil society circles.
Speaking through her verified social media handles on Tuesday, Natasha described the incident as “a politically motivated abuse of power aimed at silencing an independent voice in the Senate.”
According to Channels Television (Nov. 4, 2025), the senator said she was informed by embassy officials that her visa had been “withdrawn following communication from certain Nigerian authorities.” She called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure due process and protect democratic freedom within the legislature.
A senior legislative aide, quoted by Premium Times (Nov. 5, 2025), refuted the claim of any institutional role, saying, “There is no record of a Senate decision on members’ foreign travel or visa matters. If any such correspondence occurred, it would have been on a personal basis, not a Senate resolution.”
Meanwhile, The Punch (Nov. 5, 2025) reported that the Office of the Senate President has neither confirmed nor denied the allegation. Sources within the National Assembly suggested that the visa issue “might have stemmed from embassy-level security verifications rather than any formal government directive.”
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International Nigeria and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), have condemned the alleged interference. Amnesty Nigeria warned that “political retaliation through administrative influence represents a dangerous precedent for legislative independence.”
On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the hashtag #StandWithNatasha has trended, with supporters accusing the Senate leadership of “weaponizing institutions against reform-minded lawmakers.” Critics, however, argue that the senator is “overdramatizing a diplomatic matter without evidence.”
The controversy has added tension to an already divided Senate, where debates over transparency and internal control have become increasingly heated in recent months.
Sources
Channels Television — “Senator Natasha Cries Out Over Visa Revocation, Blames Senate Leadership,” Nov. 4, 2025
Premium Times — “No Senate Resolution on Visa Issues — Legislative Aide,” Nov. 5, 2025
The Punch — “Senate Denies Role in Natasha’s Visa Revocation Controversy,” Nov. 5, 2025
Amnesty International Nigeria Statement — Press Release on Political Retaliation Allegations, Nov. 5, 2025
Social Media Trends — #StandWithNatasha (X, Nov. 2025)
