The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has faulted the Nigerian Senate’s refusal to reinstate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan after the completion of her six-month suspension, describing the move as unlawful and a direct assault on democratic values.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party condemned the obstruction as “malicious, illegal, and morally indefensible,” warning that it sets a dangerous precedent where the will of the electorate can be overridden by political interests.
“The suspension of Senator Natasha was imposed by the Senate, not by a court of law. Whether one agrees with the basis for that decision or not, the tenure of that disciplinary action has lapsed. Any further attempt to prevent her from resuming is therefore both illegal and morally indefensible,” the statement read.
The ADC stressed that Akpoti-Uduaghan was elected by the people of Kogi Central, and denying her access to resume legislative duties amounted to silencing her constituents. The party further disclosed that during her suspension, the lawmaker was cut off from her salary, aides, and office access—measures it described as “institutional mugging.”
The party also criticized Senate leadership, warning that treating the chamber’s disciplinary powers as superior to constitutional rights undermines democracy. It noted that several Senior Advocates of Nigeria had affirmed that a pending appeal does not nullify a lawmaker’s right to resume office.
On the role of the Clerk of the National Assembly, the ADC accused him of overstepping his mandate, arguing that his duty was “not to adjudicate but to facilitate.”
The party further raised concerns about the impact on women’s participation in politics, noting that Akpoti-Uduaghan is one of only four women in the 109-member Senate. “Nigeria’s female representation of 2.7% is already among the lowest in Africa. Any action that resembles gendered intimidation of the few women in the Senate would only worsen the situation,” the statement added.
Concluding, the ADC demanded that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan be allowed to resume immediately, declaring that “what is at stake here is not just one Senate seat, but the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy itself.”
