Senate Insists on Rules as Pressure Mounts Over Natasha’s Suspension

The Senate has declared it will not yield to public pressure in the ongoing standoff over Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, stressing that matters before the courts remain off-limits to parliamentary debate.

Speaking at a capacity-building workshop for parliamentary correspondents in Abuja yesterday, Senate spokesman, Yemi Adaramodu, cited Standing Order 40 (1), which bars consideration of cases already in court. He added that Section 60 of the Constitution empowers the legislature to regulate its internal procedures.

“Rules are rules,” Adaramodu said. “If you are meant to sit in seat number 10 and you take seat number 13, you will not be recognised. Often, the public misinterprets such procedures, portraying the parliament as a Banana Republic.”

He urged journalists covering the National Assembly to deepen their understanding of legislative processes and avoid sensational reporting, warning that misrepresentation could inflame tensions and cast the Senate in a lawless light. Adaramodu also reminded the press of its constitutional duty under Section 22 to uphold responsible oversight without partisanship.

Meanwhile, calls for Natasha’s recall have continued to grow. Former Education Minister and founder of the School of Politics, Policy and Governance, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, described the Senate’s refusal to reinstate the Kogi Central senator as “a scandalous abuse of power.” She urged Nigerians to unite against what she termed an ongoing assault on the constitution, which has persisted for six months.

Similarly, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) condemned the Senate leadership, accusing it of flouting both legal precedent and democratic norms. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party described the refusal to allow Akpoti-Uduaghan resume as “a flagrant affront on Nigeria’s democratic values.”

The ADC further warned that the Senate’s stance reflects a broader intolerance within the APC-led government, which it accused of silencing dissent and targeting opposition voices. The party cautioned that the treatment of Akpoti-Uduaghan could deepen the marginalisation of women in politics.