In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party accused the Senate leadership of disregarding established legal precedents and moral obligations by continuing to bar the Kogi Central Senator from resuming her senatorial role after the expiration of her six-month suspension.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was initially suspended on March 6, 2024, for alleged insubordination, which resulted in the forfeiture of her salary, aides, and office privileges. The Senator maintains that this suspension was politically motivated, stemming from her petition to Senate President Akpabio concerning alleged sexual harassment, an allegation the Senate subsequently dismissed. Despite a court ruling that favored Senator Natasha, the Senate leadership persisted in enforcing the full six-month duration of the suspension. Security personnel reportedly prevented her from accessing the Senate chamber in July, an event that triggered protests. Although her lawyer indicated her intention to resume her legislative duties on September 23, a letter dated September 4 from the Acting Clerk of the National Assembly reiterated the suspension, pending the outcome of an appeal.
The ADC cautioned that this continued obstruction mirrors the APC-led administration’s escalating intolerance for democratic practices, which the party contends is designed to stifle opposition and suppress dissenting voices. Abdullahi articulated the ADC’s deep concern, stating that the continued impediment to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s resumption is not only malicious but profoundly detrimental to the spirit of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy and the fundamental right to dissent. He emphasized that the suspension was imposed by the Senate, not by a judicial body, and that its stipulated tenure has clearly lapsed. Therefore, any subsequent attempt to prevent her return is deemed both illegal and morally indefensible.
The ADC stressed that this matter extends beyond partisan politics, warning of a dangerous precedent being established within legislative institutions. This precedent, the party argues, reduces democratic representation to the arbitrary decisions of a select few, rather than reflecting the will of the electorate. It also fosters a political culture that prioritizes punishing dissent over upholding justice. The party underscored that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was elected to represent her constituents, and denying her access to the Senate chamber is, by extension, a denial of her constituents’ right to be heard.
Furthermore, the ADC highlighted that Senator Natasha was stripped of her salary, aides, and office access during her suspension, resources that are essential for effective public service, not mere privileges. The party described the deprivation of these tools as “institutional mugging.” The ADC also expressed profound disturbance over the Senate leadership’s stance, which appears to suggest that legislative power can be exercised without accountability. The party challenged Senate President Akpabio and his colleagues to provide a justification for making a completed suspension indefinite through covert means. The ADC noted that several respected Senior Advocates of Nigeria have correctly observed that a suspension that has run its course can no longer serve as a basis for denying a senator’s return.
The ADC posited that a pending legal appeal does not negate constitutional rights, nor does it grant any official the authority to override the mandate of the electorate. Consequently, the continued barring of Senator Natasha from office constitutes a violation of the constitution. The party stressed that the Senate, as Nigeria’s apex lawmaking body, must not be seen to contravene the very laws it is mandated to uphold. The ADC also expressed concern regarding the Clerk of the National Assembly’s refusal to process Senator Natasha’s resumption, citing the matter as sub judice. While this stance might be framed as administrative caution, the ADC suggested it projects administrative complicity, as the Clerk’s role is to facilitate, not to adjudicate. When the administrative machinery becomes subservient to political interests, the integrity of the institution itself is compromised.
The ADC drew attention to the wider implications of the Senate’s handling of Senator Natasha, one of the few female members in the Senate, for women’s political participation in Nigeria. With Senator Natasha being one of only four women in a Senate of 109 members, Nigeria’s extremely low female representation of 2.7% is already among the worst globally, even within Africa. The ADC cautioned that any action resembling gendered intimidation against the few women in the Senate would serve only to discourage women’s political engagement and further tarnish Nigeria’s international image. The party concluded that Nigeria cannot legitimately claim to be a democracy while marginalizing half of its population from critical decision-making spaces. The fundamental essence of democracy, according to the ADC, lies in its capacity to accommodate dissent, protect minority voices, and uphold the rule of law, irrespective of any inconvenience. The integrity of Nigeria’s democracy, not merely a single Senate seat, is what is at stake. The ADC affirmed its unwavering support for democratic principles and women’s political participation, demanding that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan be immediately allowed to resume her legislative duties.
