Opposition party condemns continued obstruction of suspended senator after six-month term expires, citing democratic violations
ABUJA, Nigeria – The African Democratic Congress has gone after Senate President Godswill Akpabio, accusing him of power abuse for keeping suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan out of the chamber. The ADC warns that blocking her return after she’s served her full six-month suspension appears to violate basic democratic principles.
ADC Takes Aim at Senate Leadership Over Natasha Saga
The opposition party didn’t hold back in a blistering statement Wednesday, with National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi directly calling out the Senate’s continued blocking of the Kogi Central Senator.
“The African Democratic Congress observes with deep concern the continued obstruction of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming her seat in the Nigerian Senate after the completion of her six-month suspension,” Abdullahi said. “We consider this development not only malicious but also deeply injurious to the spirit of our constitutional democracy, especially the right to dissent.”
Here’s what happened: Senator Natasha got suspended on March 6 for what they called insubordination. She lost her salary, her aides, even access to her office. But she’s always maintained this was payback for petitioning Akpabio about alleged sexual harassment, claims the Senate quickly dismissed.
A court actually ruled in her favour, but Senate leadership dug in their heels. They insisted she had to serve the full six months. Come July, security guards physically stopped her from entering the chamber, which sparked protests from her supporters and civil rights groups.
Legal Mess Gets Messier as Time Runs Out
Her lawyers say she’s planning to show up on September 23 to resume work. But here’s the thing, the Acting Clerk sent a letter on September 4 saying the suspension still stands because of some pending appeal. Legal experts and opposition politicians are calling this move questionable at best.
“It is important to recall that the suspension of Senator Natasha was imposed by the Senate, not by a court of law,” the ADC pointed out. “And whether one agrees with the basis for that decision or not, the tenure of that disciplinary action has lapsed. Any further attempt to prevent her from resuming is therefore both illegal and morally indefensible.”
Several Senior Advocates of Nigeria have come out publicly saying that once the suspension period ends, you can’t legally keep someone out of the chamber. The math seems pretty straightforward, but apparently not everyone agrees.
Democracy Under Fire, Opposition Says
The ADC warns that what’s happening here could set a dangerous precedent, one that turns democratic representation into something decided by “the whims of a few individuals rather than the will of the electorate.”
Abdullahi put it bluntly: “Let it be clearly stated, the people of her constituency elected Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to speak on their behalf. Denying her access to the chamber is, by extension, denying her constituents the right to be heard.”
The party called stripping away her salary and staff “institutional mugging” rather than proper discipline. They’re demanding Akpabio explain why a suspension that’s supposed to be over has somehow become “indefinite by stealth.”
Women’s Representation Takes Another Hit
This whole mess may have broader implications for women in Nigerian politics. Senator Natasha is one of just four women in a 109-member Senate. That’s 2.7%, which puts Nigeria among the worst in Africa for female political participation.
“Any action that resembles gendered intimidation of the few women in the Senate would only discourage women’s participation and make Nigeria appear even worse in the eyes of the world,” the ADC noted.
It’s hard to argue with that logic. Nigeria already struggles with getting women into political leadership roles, and this kind of treatment probably isn’t helping.
Clerk Gets Called Out Too
The ADC also went after the Clerk of the National Assembly for refusing to process Senator Natasha’s return, citing some legal technicality about the matter being “sub judice.” The party called this “administrative complicity” rather than genuine caution.
“His role is not to adjudicate but to facilitate,” they said. “When the administrative machinery becomes hostage to political interests, the institution itself is diminished.”
The opposition party is demanding immediate access to the Senate chamber for Senator Natasha, framing this as a test of Nigeria’s democratic integrity.
Key Timeline:
- March 6: Senator Natasha suspended for alleged insubordination
- July: Security bars her from Senate chamber despite court ruling
- September 4: Acting Clerk reaffirms suspension pending appeal
- September 23: Planned resumption date announced by legal team
Culled:PUNCH
