ADC Condemns Senate For Blocking Natasha Akpoti’s Return

The African Democratic Congress has faulted the Senate for stopping Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming her duties after completing a six-month suspension, calling the move unconstitutional and abusive.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, had written to the clerk of the National Assembly stating her intention to return on September 4, the date she marked as the end of her suspension. However, on Tuesday, she was prevented from resuming, with officials insisting that the suspension remains a matter before the courts.

In a statement on Wednesday, ADC’s national publicity secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said the decision violates both the constitution and the rights of her constituents. The party argued that her suspension was not imposed by any court and had already lapsed, making its extension unlawful.

ADC warned that preventing the senator from returning amounts to silencing dissent and undermining democracy. It noted that during the suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan was stripped of her salaries, staff, and access to her office, leaving her constituents without proper representation.

The party accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the leadership of abusing legislative powers and acting without accountability. It stressed that a pending legal case does not override constitutional rights or the mandate of the electorate.

ADC also criticised the clerk of the National Assembly for refusing to process her resumption, saying his role is administrative, not judicial. The party expressed concern that Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only four women in the 109-member Senate, is being unfairly targeted in a way that could discourage women from political participation.

Citing Nigeria’s low female representation of just 2.7 percent, ADC said the action paints the country poorly on the global stage and could further erode trust in the democratic process.

The party demanded that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan be allowed to resume her seat without delay, stressing that anything less denies her constituents their voice in the Senate.