The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, to be reinstated immediately, warning that continuing to obstruct her return after a six-month suspension endangers Nigeria’s democracy and undermines female political participation.
The ADC, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, expressed concern that delaying the senator from returning to her legislative duties breaches democratic ideals and disenfranchises her supporters.
“The suspension, having been imposed by the Senate and not a court of law, has lapsed. Any further attempt to prevent her from resuming is therefore both illegal and morally indefensible,” Abdullahi said.
The party stated that depriving Akpoti-Uduaghan access to the chamber silences the voice of the people who elected her and that withdrawing her salary, assistants, and office access during her suspension constituted disproportionate punishment.
The ADC also chastised the Clerk of the National Assembly for refusing to process her resumption on the grounds that the case was before the courts, claiming that the Clerk’s duty was administrative rather than judicial.
“Administrative caution must not translate into complicity. When the administrative machinery becomes hostage to political interests, the institution itself is diminished,” the party stated.
The ADC stated that the handling of the matter sends a disappointing signal about gender inclusion in Nigerian politics, citing Akpoti-Uduaghan’s status as one of only four women among the Senate’s 109 members.
“Any action that resembles gendered intimidation of the few women in the Senate would only discourage women’s participation. Nigeria cannot claim to be a democracy while excluding half of its population from key decision-making spaces,” Abdullahi added.
The ADC insisted that Akpoti-Uduaghan be allowed to resume her seat immediately, stressing that the matter was about more than one individual.
“What is at stake here is not just one Senate seat, but the integrity of our democracy itself,” the party said.
