The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned what it described as a deliberate effort to block Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming her legislative duties, warning that the action undermines democratic principles and sets a dangerous precedent for Nigeria’s parliament.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party accused Senate leaders of acting outside the law by extending the Kogi Central senator’s suspension beyond its stipulated six months.
Natasha was suspended on March 6 for alleged insubordination, during which she lost her salary, aides, and office access. She has consistently maintained that her suspension was politically motivated, coming after she petitioned Senate President Godswill Akpabio over alleged sexual harassment — a claim the Senate dismissed.
Although a court had ruled in her favour, Senate leadership insisted she must serve out the suspension. Matters escalated in July when security personnel physically barred her from entering the chamber, sparking protests. Her lawyer has said she intends to return on September 23, but a September 4 letter from the Acting Clerk of the National Assembly reaffirmed that her suspension remains in place pending an appeal.
ADC rejects Senate’s position on Natasha
The ADC strongly rejected this position, accusing the Senate of trampling on constitutional rights.
“The African Democratic Congress observes with deep concern the continued obstruction of Senator Natasha from resuming her seat in the Nigerian Senate after the completion of her six-month suspension. We consider this development not only malicious but also deeply injurious to the spirit of our constitutional democracy, especially the right to dissent,” Abdullahi said.
The party stressed that the Senate lacks legal grounds to prolong the suspension once the six months had elapsed. “Any further attempt to prevent her from resuming is therefore both illegal and morally indefensible,” Abdullahi declared.
He warned that the Senate’s action reflects a broader culture of intolerance under the APC-led government: “This is not about partisan politics. It is about a dangerous precedent being set within our legislative institutions, one that reduces democratic representation to the whims of a few individuals rather than the will of the electorate. It is about a political culture that appears more invested in punishing dissent than in upholding justice.”
The ADC further described the withdrawal of Natasha’s entitlements during her suspension as an abuse of power. “To strip an elected senator of these tools is not discipline, it is institutional mugging. Even more disturbing is the posture of the Senate leadership, which has continued to act as though legislative power can be exercised without accountability,” the statement read.
Abdullahi challenged the Clerk of the National Assembly for refusing to process her return, calling it “administrative complicity.” He said, “His role is not to adjudicate but to facilitate. When the administrative machinery becomes hostage to political interests, the institution itself is diminished.”
The ADC also highlighted the gender implications of the case, noting that Natasha is one of just four women in the 109-member Senate. With women holding a meagre 2.7 percent of seats, the party argued that her obstruction sends the wrong message about women’s political inclusion.
“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,” Abdullahi warned.
“Nigeria cannot claim to be a democracy while marginalising half of its population from its most critical spaces of decision-making.”
The ADC demanded Natasha’s immediate reinstatement, saying, “The ADC, therefore, stands firmly in defence of democratic principles and women’s political participation. We therefore demand that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan be allowed to resume her duties immediately.”
