The African Democratic Congress has condemned the continued obstruction of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return to the Senate, describing it as abusive and a flagrant affront on Nigeria’s democratic values.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party accused the Senate leadership of defying both legal precedent and moral responsibility by refusing to allow the Kogi Central lawmaker resume her duties after serving a six-month suspension.
The ADC further warned that the ongoing blockade reflects a broader APC-led government’s anti-democratic temper which has sought to to silence opposition voices and punish dissent.
The party concluded that singling out Senator Natasha for such harsh treatment may further suppress women’s political participation.
The full statement read:
The African Democratic Congress observes with deep concern the continued obstruction of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan 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.
It is important to recall that the suspension of Senator Natasha was imposed by the Senate, not by a court of law. And 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.
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.
Let it be clearly stated, the people of her constituency elected Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to speak on their behalf. Denying her access to the chamber is, by extension, denying her constituents the right to be heard.
It is especially troubling that during the course of her suspension, Senator Natasha was denied her salaries, legislative aides, and access to her office. These are not privileges, but instruments of public service. To strip an elected senator of these tools is not discipline, it is institutional mugging.