• Labour Party urges lawmakers to reconsider sanction
• Lawyers condemn suspension, fault Senate leadership
• Ezekwesili commends Akpoti-Uduaghan’s resilience
• Akpoti-Uduaghan criticises suspension, vows to continue serving constituents
• Oluremi Tinubu seeks respect for Senate, dismisses controversies
• Moro, Kalu call for leniency, empathy towards Akpoti-Uduaghan’s aides
Condemnation has trailed the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) for six months over allegations of breaching Senate Standing Rules.
The suspension followed the adoption of recommendations by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, which investigated a petition against Akpoti-Uduaghan filed by Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti).
In its report, the Ethics Committee recommended the six-month suspension and additional sanctions, including the withdrawal of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s security details and a directive barring her from representing the Senate at any international engagements.
The petition stemmed from a confrontation between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio during a recent plenary session. The brawl eventually took a turn for the worse after Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of sexual harassment. The Senate President, meanwhile, denied the allegation.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension came as Nigeria and other countries prepare to mark International Women’s Day, slated for Saturday, March 8, 2025.
However, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan criticised the suspension, describing it as unjust and a violation of the principles of natural justice, fairness, and equity.
In a statement issued yesterday through her Chief Press Secretary, Isreal Orogbonlo, Akpoti-Uduaghan labelled the suspension as illegal and pledged to remain committed to serving her constituents.
She decried what she termed a culture of silence, intimidation, and victim-shaming, stating that her removal does not undermine her legitimacy as an elected senator.
“The illegal suspension does not withdraw my legitimacy as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and I will continue to use my duly elected position to serve my constituents and country to the best of my ability till 2027 … and beyond,” she said.
The Labour Party (LP) called on the Senate to review its decision to suspend Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In a statement, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, described the Senate’s decision as disheartening, especially as it coincided with International Women’s Day.
Ifoh expressed concern that the suspension, reportedly based on alleged breaches of Senate rules, was carried out without a proper investigation into Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
“What the Senate has done is illegal and unlikely to stand. They suspended the senator without granting her fair hearing and disregarded a court ruling that barred them from taking such action,” Ifoh stated.
He further argued that the suspension deprives the people of Kogi Central of their constitutional right to representation. “Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was elected to serve the interests of her constituents, not just her own,” he said.
The LP spokesman urged the Senate to uphold democratic principles and ensure due process is followed in addressing the matter. He called on the chamber to reconsider its decision and prioritise fairness and justice in its proceedings.
Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, praised Akpoti-Uduaghan for her resilience.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Ezekwesili lauded Akpoti-Uduaghan for maintaining her composure despite what she described as a “coordinated abuse of power” by the Senate.
She accused the lawmakers of bullying the senator for speaking up on an undisclosed matter and applauded her for standing firm in the face of adversity.
“Natasha won today. That was the most they could do—collectively abuse their powers. As always. But today is not forever,” Ezekwesili wrote.
She urged Nigerians, particularly women and men of goodwill, to draw inspiration from Akpoti-Uduaghan’s courage and to remain steadfast in the pursuit of justice.
Ezekwesili also called on citizens to continue advocating for the truth, emphasising that resilience and collective efforts are vital in addressing issues of injustice and abuse of power.
A Port Harcourt-based lawyer, Chief Festus Ogwuche, criticised the suspension, describing it as unjust and lacking in fairness and objectivity.
In an interview with The Guardian, Ogwuche emphasised that the law upholds principles of natural justice, which mandate fair hearing and prohibit any party from being a judge in their own case. He argued that these principles were disregarded in the senator’s suspension.
Ogwuche noted that allegations of sexual harassment, regardless of their nature, require thorough consideration, both for addressing gender prejudice and ensuring equality. He accused the Senate of dismissing the complaint and targeting Akpoti-Uduaghan unfairly.
“The Senators, rather than address this significant complaint, shoved it aside and proceeded against Natasha in a manner akin to calling a dog a bad name just to hang it,” he said.
Ogwuche also questioned the legitimacy of the proceedings, particularly the role of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the session. He argued that this undermined the constitutionality of the process, framing it as an infringement on fundamental rights.
He dismissed claims that the suspension was unrelated to the harassment complaint, stating that both issues were intertwined. “The distinction only gets cheap when it becomes a tool for the Senate to malign a member through underhand tactics and questionable legislative rules,” he added.
Ogwuche criticised the six-month suspension, citing a Court of Appeal ruling that such disciplinary actions cannot exceed 14 days. He also questioned the Senate’s authority to impose restrictions on Akpoti-Uduaghan’s movements, asserting that such powers belong exclusively to the judiciary.
He called the suspension and related actions condescending and a misuse of legislative authority.
Also, Ige Asemudara, lawyer and founder of Mission Against Injustice in Nigeria, condemned the suspension, accusing the Senate leadership of being oppressive, draconian, and disrespectful of the rule of law.
In a statement, Asemudara criticised the Senate’s decision to suspend Akpoti-Uduaghan based on Senate rules, despite allegations of sexual harassment, which he described as significant and deserving of thorough investigation.
“The Senate was too hasty in suspending Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan. Such an allegation is weighty and should not have been dismissed on the altar of rules,” he said. Asemudara argued that the Senate rules exist to facilitate its operations, not to suppress justice, adding that the leadership should have prioritised fairness.
He accused Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and his team of misusing provisions meant for receiving petitions, noting that these were intended for oversight functions, not internal disputes. He suggested that the Senate should have created provisions to address such complaints or referred the matter back to the chamber for proper deliberation.
Asemudara alleged that the Senate’s actions suggest an attempt to hide something, criticising Senate President Godswill Akpabio for presiding over the proceedings despite the allegations against him. “Akpabio should have stepped down to allow another senator to preside. His actions undermine the credibility of the National Assembly,” he said.
The lawyer described the suspension as a blow to gender inclusion in politics and a continuation of oppressive practices. “This sends a bad signal to women in politics. Justice must not only be done but must be seen to have been done,” he added, calling for a fair investigation of the allegations.
Asemudara further criticised the concentration of power in the Senate President, describing it as autocratic and detrimental to democratic principles.
MEANWHILE, speaking at a forum to commemorate the International Women’s Day celebration at the National Assembly in Abuja, Akpabio firmly denied allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by Akpoti-Uduaghan.
He said: “At no time did I ever harass any female colleague. I have always worked with women respectfully and ensured they are given opportunities based on their abilities.” He emphasised that leadership should be rooted in merit, not personal grievances turned into public scandals.
The Senate President also expressed concern over the declining representation of women in governance, noting that female senators had reduced from nine in the 9th Assembly to four in the 10th. He urged women to actively support one another and to rise above prejudice, adding, “If we truly want more female representation in governance, then merit must be the focus, not victimhood.”
Reflecting on his upbringing by a strong single mother and his record of appointing women to key leadership roles as governor, Akpabio warned against the dangers of false accusations. “False allegations do not advance the cause of women. Instead, they undermine real cases of injustice. Justice and truth must prevail, rather than personal grievances becoming public spectacles,” he said.
Commending the ethics committee’s work, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele defended the decision, stating, “This is not about gender or regional affiliations; it is about upholding the integrity of the Senate. Deliberate disregard for our rules cannot go unchecked.”
Bamidele emphasised the importance of adherence to Senate decorum and cautioned against prioritising public theatrics over legislative responsibility. He also dismissed claims of political bias, noting that colleagues from Kogi State, irrespective of party affiliation, supported the disciplinary measures.
“This is not about social media controversies or grandstanding,” he said. “Legacies are built on governance and service, not fleeting popularity. Those who respect the rules of this institution serve as ambassadors of honour for their constituencies and the nation.”
Addressing claims of a threatening phone call to Akpoti-Uduaghan, Bamidele clarified that his conversation with her was meant to reconcile differences. “I met with the Senate President and urged him to clarify his remarks. I called Senator Natasha that night, placed her on speakerphone, and asked her what she hoped to gain by the Senate President’s downfall. Unfortunately, she misrepresented our discussion in the media,” he said.
He warned against false narratives and reiterated the need for senators to conduct themselves with dignity, stating, “The Senate is an institution of honour and decorum. Our rules must be respected, and we cannot allow theatrics to undermine our integrity.”
ALSO, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North Senatorial Zone, called for empathy for the aides of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan following her suspension.
During the plenary session that led to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension, Kalu moved for an amendment to a committee recommendation that proposed withholding the salaries and wages of her staff.
Addressing the Senate, Kalu argued that it would be unjust to punish the aides for an offence they did not commit, as they are employees of the National Assembly who depend solely on their earnings for survival.
“We cannot punish the aides of Senator Natasha for an offence they did not commit,” Kalu said. “They are staff of the National Assembly, and they have no other means of livelihood apart from the salaries they earn from the Senate. It would be wrong for us as a Senate to deny them and their families their salaries.”
He appealed to his colleagues to amend the section of the recommendation that sought to deny the aides their pay, urging the Senate to show compassion and fairness.
“I move that we should please amend that section and allow them to earn their salaries,” he concluded.
Also, the Minority Leader of the Senate, Abba Moro, appealed for leniency, urging a reduction of her suspension term from six months to three months.
Moro stated that his submission reflected the collective position of all senators from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking during the plenary session, Moro argued that a three-month suspension would suffice for Akpoti-Uduaghan to reflect on her actions and realise her mistakes.
He also emphasised the importance of preserving the Senate’s image, noting that Nigerians were watching and expected the chamber to act as statesmen.
“Nigerians are looking up to us as role models,” Moro said. “We must ensure that our actions do not bring disrepute to this honourable institution.”
This came as the wife of the President, Oluremi Tinubu, weighed in on the controversies surrounding the Nigerian Senate, emphasising that the chamber remains a “mature” institution deserving of respect.
Speaking to journalists ahead of International Women’s Day, the First Lady downplayed concerns over the Senate’s handling of recent issues, maintaining that the lawmakers are “doing what is needful.”
Senator Tinubu, who served as a senator for 12 years, stressed the importance of upholding the Senate’s integrity, describing it as a place of honour that should not be mired in controversy. She also urged Nigerian women to assert themselves in leadership roles and refuse to be relegated.
“I know with what is going on in the Senate, you may wonder why I’m not taking a position,” Tinubu said. “I believe the Senate is doing what is needful because that is what it is. It is a mature chamber, and we shouldn’t be hearing things like this. It should be treated with respect. Being in that place is an honour.”
Reflecting on her time in the Senate, Tinubu remarked on the dignity that comes with serving in the chamber, while encouraging women to rise above circumstances where they might be disrespected.
“I was there for 12 years, even in my younger days. I’m still trying to look young, but people compliment you all the time. Women must raise themselves and not be in positions where men talk to them anyhow. You can always shut them down before they start,” she added.
