Abuja, March 14, 2025 – Senator Jimoh Ibrahim has stated that the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) cannot consider the petition filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, citing jurisdictional and procedural limitations.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Ibrahim argued that the IPU, as a global organization facilitating dialogue among parliaments, does not have the mandate to adjudicate electoral disputes or intervene in Nigeria’s internal legislative matters.
“The IPU is not a judicial body, nor does it have the authority to interfere in the electoral processes of a sovereign nation. Matters concerning the validity of elections or parliamentary disputes must be resolved through the appropriate legal channels within Nigeria,” he asserted.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, had reportedly petitioned the IPU over alleged irregularities and political interference affecting her position in the Senate. However, Ibrahim dismissed the move as misplaced, emphasizing that Nigerian electoral and judicial institutions, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the courts, are the only recognized bodies for resolving such disputes.
Legal experts and political analysts have weighed in on the controversy, with some agreeing that the IPU primarily functions as a diplomatic forum rather than an arbitration body for electoral grievances. Others argue that while the IPU may not have binding authority, it can serve as a platform to bring international attention to political concerns.
With the petition now in question, attention is expected to shift to Nigeria’s legal institutions for any further proceedings on the matter.
