Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, former minister and founder of the School of Politics, Policy and Governance, has strongly criticized the Nigerian Senate for extending the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan beyond six months, calling it an abuse of power and a violation of the Constitution.

In a statement titled “Senate’s Constitutional Overreach in the Case of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan,” Ezekwesili urged the Senate to end what she described as an illegal extension of suspension and allow the Kogi Central senator to resume her legislative duties.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on March 6, 2025, after accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment.

Although her six-month suspension period has elapsed, the Senate recently informed her via a letter dated September 4 that the suspension would continue indefinitely, citing an ongoing court case.

Ezekwesili called this justification “fundamentally flawed,” arguing that the Senate cannot hide behind pending litigation to defy both constitutional mandates and a clear court ruling.

She referenced a Federal High Court judgment by Justice Binta Nyako, which declared the suspension excessive and unconstitutional.

According to the ruling, suspending a senator for six months especially when the National Assembly only sits for about 181 days a year—effectively silences the constituents who elected her.

“Democracy begins to die when lawmakers break the law,” Ezekwesili stated, adding that the Senate’s actions reflect a deepening disregard for accountability and judicial authority in Nigeria.

Despite her frustration with what she termed an “unreasonable political class,” Ezekwesili made a passionate appeal for the Senate to comply with the law, respect the court’s decision, and reinstate Akpoti-Uduaghan immediately.

“This is not just about one senator,” she said.

“It’s about whether Nigerians are ready to defend democratic principles against abuse of power. Every day this injustice continues to erode the rule of law and sends a dangerous message to future generations.”

She called on citizens to unite in demanding that the Senate respect the Constitution and uphold the rights of all Nigerians.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has stated that the Commission currently lacks the legal authority to penalize politicians and political parties engaging in early campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at a roundtable discussion titled “The Challenges of Premature Political Campaigns in Nigeria”, held in Abuja on Wednesday, Yakubu acknowledged that although Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 clearly prohibits campaigns starting earlier than 150 days before the election, the law does not include penalties for violating this provision.

He pointed out that the only punitive measure in the law is under Section 94(2), which allows for a fine of up to ₦500,000 for campaigning within 24 hours to polling day, a penalty he described as weak and inadequate to deter violators.

“Political parties and candidates are in constant campaign mode, even when INEC hasn’t released the election timetable,” Yakubu said.

“We’ve observed rallies, billboards, media adverts, and other campaign activities taking place far outside the legal campaign window.”

He noted that these premature campaign activities not only violate the spirit of the law but also hinder INEC’s efforts to monitor campaign finance, as funds are being spent unofficially and outside the regulated campaign period.

Despite public expectations for INEC to act as the regulator of political parties, Yakubu emphasized that the lack of legal sanctions ties the Commission’s hands.

“There are no legal consequences for starting campaigns too early. That’s the core issue,” he added.

Yakubu warned that the absence of enforcement tools has encouraged political actors to continue early campaigning with impunity, mounting billboards, sponsoring media campaigns and organizing rallies well before INEC announces its official timetable.

He urged lawmakers to consider criminalizing premature campaigns to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.

“We’re glad to have key stakeholders here, including former INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega, who will share his insights. We’ve also invited the leadership of both the Senate and House of Representatives Electoral Committees,” Yakubu said.

He expressed confidence that with input from experts, political party leaders, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), new legal provisions can be drafted to close the current gaps.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly condemned attempts to stop Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from returning to the Senate, warning that any further obstruction amounts to abuse of power and a threat to democratic governance.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, criticized the Senate leadership for defying both legal and moral obligations by preventing the Kogi Central lawmaker from resuming after her six-month suspension.

Senator Natasha was suspended on March 6, 2025, over alleged insubordination, which resulted in the loss of her salary, aides, and office privileges.

She claims the suspension was politically motivated, following a petition she submitted accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, an allegation the Senate dismissed.

Despite a court ruling in her favour, the Senate insisted on enforcing the full suspension.

In July, she was denied entry into the chamber by security personnel, prompting public outrage.

Although her legal team has indicated plans for her to resume on September 23, a letter from the Acting Clerk dated September 4 reiterated that her suspension remains, pending an appeal.

The ADC said the continued denial of access to the chamber is unconstitutional and violates the rights of both the senator and her constituents.

“This is not discipline, it is institutional mugging,” Abdullahi stated.

“Senator Natasha has served the full term of her suspension. Any effort to prolong it is illegal, politically motivated, and a threat to the foundations of our democracy.”

The party called the Senate’s stance a dangerous precedent that undermines democratic representation and silences dissent.

Highlighting gender inequality in politics, the ADC expressed concern over the implications for women in governance.

“Senator Natasha is one of only four women in a 109-member Senate. Nigeria’s already poor 2.7% female representation cannot afford further setbacks through intimidation and exclusion,” the party said.

The party demanded immediate reinstatement of Senator Natasha, stating:

“The Senate must not be seen as operating above the law. A pending appeal is not grounds to suspend a citizen’s constitutional rights. Democracy requires dissent, fairness, and respect for the rule of law.”

The ADC also criticised the Clerk of the National Assembly for allegedly siding with political interests by refusing to process her resumption, warning that administrative neutrality is vital to institutional credibility.

The ADC reaffirmed its commitment to defending democracy and supporting women in politics, urging Senate leadership to act in accordance with the law and democratic values.

“Denying Natasha her seat is not just an attack on her—it’s an attack on the people who elected her. The Senate must do the right thing.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially recognised the new leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), now headed by former Senate President David Mark.

In a list published on INEC’s official website on Wednesday, David Mark was named National Chairman, with Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary.

Other officials listed include Mani Ibrahim Ahmad as National Treasurer, Akibu Dalhatu as National Financial Secretary, and Prof. Oserheimen Aigberaodion Osunbor as National Legal Adviser.

This formal recognition follows weeks of resistance and legal uncertainty after INEC initially declined to acknowledge the ADC’s newly formed leadership coalition.

The new leadership emerged from a major political shift in July 2025, when an opposition coalition comprising prominent political figures adopted the ADC as its unified platform to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.

At a high-profile event in Abuja, David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola were announced as interim chairman and secretary, respectively.

The event was attended by several influential politicians, including Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Nasir El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State, Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers State and several other political heavyweights.

New information has surfaced regarding the dismissal of Fegho Umunubo, the Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Digital and Creative Economy, who worked under the office of Vice President Kashim Shettima.

According to sources within the presidency, Umunubo was removed from his position after being linked to a series of fraudulent deals in Nigeria’s creative sector.

These scams reportedly involved false promises of government support for various creative projects.

One of the most notable incidents involved a sponsorship agreement with Arese Ugwu, author and producer of The Smart Money Woman series.

Documents reviewed by the press indicate that Umunubo, in his official capacity, pledged ₦10 million in support for the premiere and promotion of Lara Unlimited, a spin-off of Ugwu’s earlier work.

The agreement also promised branding and visibility for the digital economy office on event materials, screening ads, podcast features and influencer promotions.

However, Umunubo allegedly failed to deliver on these terms.

On August 30, Ms. Ugwu took to Instagram to publicly accuse Umunubo of fraud.

“Just so it’s clear that I’m not crashing out over 5 million naira as Fegho Umunubo would like you to believe,” she wrote in her post.

Sources claim this was not an isolated case. Several figures in Nollywood were reportedly deceived into similar fake sponsorship deals, with Umunubo allegedly using his presidential title to gain trust and access.

“He scammed multiple people in the industry using that office,” a source told Premium Times.

Although he was quietly removed from office in August, Umunubo allegedly continued to present himself as a serving presidential aide.

This prompted the State House to release a formal public statement on Monday, officially confirming his disengagement, the first such public disclaimer under the Tinubu administration.

When contacted for comments, Umunubo did not respond to messages sent via Instagram. However, he acknowledged his exit from government service in a post, writing:

“It’s been an honour to serve this great country and the creative industry.”