ADC: Senate’s refusal to lift Natasha Akpoti’s suspension is abusive, unconstitutional

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the senate of violating democratic principles by delaying Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central, from returning to her seat after serving a six-month suspension.

Akpoti-Uduaghan had, in a letter dated August 28, 2025, notified the clerk to the national assembly of her intention to resume on September 4, the date she said marked the end of her six-month suspension.

But on Tuesday, the national assembly had prevented Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming legislative duties, insisting that her suspension is still a subject of litigation.

In a statement on Wednesday, Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC’s national publicity secretary, said the refusal of the senate leadership to allow the Kogi lawmaker resume her duties is “abusive and morally indefensible”.

He noted that the suspension, which was not imposed by a court of law, has lapsed, and extending it indefinitely is “a violation of the constitution and the mandate of the people”.

“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) 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. Any further attempt to prevent her from resuming is therefore both illegal and morally indefensible.”

The party said Akpoti-Uduaghan’s constituents are being denied representation, noting that she was also stripped of her salaries, aides, and access to her office during her suspension.

“To strip an elected senator of these tools is not discipline, it is institutional mugging,” Abdullahi said.

The ADC criticised the Godswill Akpabio-led senate leadership for acting as though “legislative power can be exercised without accountability”.

“Several respected Senior Advocates of Nigeria have rightly observed that Senator Natasha’s suspension, having fully lapsed, can no longer be used as a justification to deny her return,” Abdullahi added.

“A pending legal appeal does not suspend constitutional rights, nor does it grant any official the power to override the mandate of the electorate.”

The party also faulted the clerk of the national assembly for refusing to process her resumption on the grounds that the matter is sub judice.

“His role is not to adjudicate but to facilitate. When the administrative machinery becomes hostage to political interests, the institution itself is diminished,” Abdullahi said.

The ADC expressed worry that Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only four women in the 109-member senate, is being “unfairly targeted” in a way that could discourage women’s political participation.

“Nigeria’s paltry female representation of 2.7 percent is already among the worst in Africa,” Abdullahi said.

“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 party demanded that Natasha be allowed to resume her legislative duties without further delay.