ADC Urges Senate, Akpabio to Reinstate Senator Natasha

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the leadership of the National Assembly to allow Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan resume her legislative duties, following the expiration of her six-month suspension.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party described the Senate’s refusal to reinstate the Kogi Central lawmaker as “a gross violation of democratic principles and a dangerous precedent.”

“The continued obstruction of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming her seat is not only malicious but deeply injurious to the spirit of our constitutional democracy,” the statement read.

The ADC argued that regardless of opinions on the merits of her suspension, the tenure had elapsed and any further attempt to block her return was “illegal and morally indefensible.”

The party further accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of suppressing dissent and silencing opposition voices, warning that the development reflects an increasingly anti-democratic posture.

According to Abdullahi, Senator Natasha was not only suspended but also stripped of her entitlements, including salaries, aides, and access to her office, which the party described as “institutional mugging.”

He also faulted the Acting Clerk of the National Assembly for refusing to process her reinstatement, insisting that his role is purely administrative and not adjudicatory.

The ADC stressed that Natasha’s exclusion has broader implications for gender inclusion in politics, noting that she is one of only four women in the 109-member Senate.

“With female representation at just 2.7 percent, one of the lowest in Africa, actions that sideline women legislators will further deepen gender imbalance and damage Nigeria’s democratic reputation,” the party warned.

The ADC therefore demanded Senator Natasha’s immediate reinstatement, describing the matter as a crucial test of Nigeria’s respect for democracy, the rule of law, and inclusivity.