The Nigerian Senate has stated it will not yield to public pressure or political demands in the ongoing standoff surrounding the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
This comes amid increasing backlash from opposition parties and civil society organisations who are calling for her immediate reinstatement.
Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu, speaking at a capacity-building workshop for parliamentary correspondents on Wednesday, cited Standing Order 40(1), which bars the chamber from addressing matters that are before the courts.
“Our Standing Orders are backed by the Constitution,” Adaramodu said.
“Section 60 empowers each House to regulate its own procedures. Rules are rules. If you’re meant to sit in seat number 10 and you sit in number 13, you won’t be recognised. But to the public, it looks like we’re running a Banana Republic.”
He urged journalists to bridge the knowledge gap between lawmakers and the public, warning that inaccurate or sensational reporting can inflame tensions and distort the legislature’s actions.
Adaramodu reminded reporters of Section 22 of the Constitution, which charges the press with the sacred responsibility of ensuring accountability through accurate and balanced coverage.
Meanwhile, criticism of the Senate’s position continues to intensify. Former Minister of Education and founder of the School of Politics, Policy and Governance, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has condemned the Senate’s refusal to allow Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to resume duties, calling it a “scandalous abuse of power” and a “violation of the Constitution.”
She urged Nigerians to rise in defense of the rule of law and to reject what she called a six-month-long assault on democratic principles.
Similarly, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) described the Senate’s actions as anti-democratic and discriminatory.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party accused Senate leadership of ignoring legal precedents and deliberately targeting the Kogi Central senator.
“The continued denial of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s resumption reflects a troubling trend by the APC-led government to stifle opposition and suppress women in politics,” the ADC warned.
“This blatant obstruction undermines Nigeria’s democratic values and could discourage greater female participation in governance.”
