…N’Assembly cites pending Court of Appeal case to deny resumption
…PDP condemns action as abridgment of Kogi Central constituents’ rights
By Sodiq Adelakun
The controversy surrounding Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension has deepened after the National Assembly refused to allow her return, despite the completion of her six-month ban from legislative duties.
In a letter dated 4 September 2025, Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Dr Yahaya Danzaria, informed the senator that her suspension, which began on 6 March 2025, would remain in force until the Court of Appeal delivers its ruling.
“The matter remains sub judice, and until the judicial process is concluded, no administrative action can be taken to facilitate your resumption,” the letter read.
Her suspension was recommended by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions after she allegedly defied a directive to change her designated seat during plenary. The punishment also stripped her of office aides, allowances and entitlements.
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which accused the Clerk of acting under political influence. PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said the action was a deliberate attempt to deny Kogi Central people their rightful representation in the Senate.
“The PDP demands that the Senate leadership ensures that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is allowed to resume her duties as an elected senator without obstruction. This renewed attack on her mandate is an affront to democracy,” Ologunagba said, calling on democracy institutions and rights groups to condemn what the party described as “politically motivated suppression.”
Civil rights organisation SERAP also waded into the matter, describing the use of pending court cases as “a pretext to silence Akpoti-Uduaghan.”
It insisted that there is no legal barrier preventing her from resuming her role and called the development “a travesty of justice” and “contrary to the rule of law.”
The group demanded her immediate reinstatement as well as the payment of all outstanding salaries and allowances for the period of her suspension.
Similarly, High Chief Peter Ameh, National Secretary of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), condemned the National Assembly’s stance, warning that it threatens constitutional democracy and risks edging Nigeria towards a one-party system.
“It is embarrassing that our democracy is being hijacked by those who do not understand its core values, freedom of expression and the right of every constituency to be represented. To use the authority of the chamber to settle personal scores is a dangerous abuse of power,” he said.
Ameh faulted the judiciary for enabling what he called “tutelary tyranny,” stressing that courts should have set a precedent against indefinite suspension of elected lawmakers by their colleagues. He also linked the issue to broader concerns about shrinking political space, citing reports of opposition rallies being disrupted in Lagos and Kebbi States.
“The APC is afraid of 2027 because Nigerians have rejected them. If they truly believe they can win, why attack opposition parties? The ballot will be a referendum on their leadership, and the people will resist any attempt to suppress opposition voices,” Ameh said.
He warned that leaving a senatorial district without representation was a dangerous precedent.
“Our democracy is undermined when a whole district is silenced because of political disagreements inside the chamber,” he added.
The deadlock over Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return has now set the National Assembly on a collision course with opposition parties, civil society and pro-democracy groups, deepening concerns about the health of Nigeria’s democracy.
