By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
The Chairman of the Senate Committee Inter-Parliamentary Senator Jimoh Ibrahim has explained why the purported petition from suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is “dead on arrival” at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
Senator Ibrahim who made the assertion in a statement in Abuja, emphasised that Nigeria, rather than Senator Natasha, is the member of the IPU.
“A petition can only be lodged against another member state by a member state.
“This implies that the IPU cannot consider petitions from individuals who are not members,” he began.
Ibrahim added: “The suspended Senator Natasha is not a member of the IPU, but Nigeria is!
“Additionally, the suspended Senator cannot represent the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“I served as the interim president of the IPU in Geneva in 2023, and I am familiar with how the IPU operates after presiding over its proceedings.
“Furthermore, as Chairman of the Interparliamentary Committee in the Nigerian Senate, I did not approve or authorise the suspended Senator Natasha to attend the IPU on behalf of Nigeria to the Senate President.”