The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken legal action against Senate President Godswill Akpabio over what it describes as the “patently unlawful” suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeks to overturn the six-month suspension, which SERAP argues violates the senator’s fundamental rights and deprives her constituents of representation.

Last week, SERAP had urged Akpabio to immediately reverse Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension or face legal consequences.

The organization followed through on its warning, as confirmed in a Sunday press release shared with PUNCH Online by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.

Titled “SERAP sues Akpabio over failure to reverse the unlawful suspension of Natasha Akpoti”, the release announced that the suit with the number FHC/ABJ/CS/498/2025, seeks “an order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio to rescind the unlawful suspension of Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, reinstate her, and fully restore all her legislative rights, entitlements, and privileges.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension stemmed from allegations that she “spoke without permission” and refused to comply with her reassigned seat in the Senate chamber.

The suspension not only bars her from participating in legislative activities but also withholds her salary and allowances.

SERAP, however, argues that this action is unconstitutional, stating that “no one should ever be punished for ‘speaking without permission.’”

“Being a senator does not deprive Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan of her fundamental human rights. The Senate should be setting an example by upholding the rule of law and promoting and protecting human rights, not stamping them out,” the organization stated.

Beyond seeking reinstatement, SERAP is also asking the court for “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Senate from further suspending or taking any disciplinary action against Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan solely for the peaceful exercise of her fundamental human rights.”

In its legal argument, SERAP contends that the suspension violates the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a signatory.

“Punishing Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan solely for peacefully expressing herself is unlawful, unnecessary and disproportionate. Her suspension would also have a disproportionate chilling effect on the ability of other members of the Senate to express themselves and exercise their human rights freely,” the suit stated.

SERAP also argues that applying Sections 6(1)(2) of the Senate Rules and the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (as amended) to suspend Akpoti-Uduaghan conflicts with constitutional provisions protecting freedom of expression.

“The unlawful restriction of Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s right to freedom of expression has indirectly violated Nigerians’ right to receive information and ideas and seriously undermined the right of her constituency to political participation,” SERAP asserted.

Citing Article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the organization emphasized that “every citizen shall have the right to participate freely in the government of his country, either directly or through freely chosen representatives in accordance with the provisions of the law.”

SERAP argues that “the suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Senate has restricted and seriously undermined the ability of the residents of her Kogi Central Senatorial District to effectively participate in their own government.”

Additionally, SERAP references Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression, stating that “every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference.”

According to the organization, the Senate’s actions directly violate these constitutional rights.

“The Senate Standing Orders 2023 (as amended) should not and cannot set aside Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s right to express herself and disseminate her opinions, which is clearly guaranteed in Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], and under the human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a state party,” SERAP argued.

The case also raises concerns about the broader implications of punishing lawmakers for expressing dissent.

“A higher degree of tolerance is expected when it is a political speech and an even higher threshold is required when it is directed towards government officials including members of the Senate,” SERAP maintained.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of SERAP by its legal representatives, Kolawole Oluwadare and Mrs. Adelanke Aremo.

“No date has been fixed for the hearing,” the statement concluded.

Senator Neda Imasuen, a Nigerian-trained lawyer, has yet to respond to reports of his disbarment from practicing law in the United States, despite the issue gaining attention in Nigerian media for over a week.

Documents reveal that Imasuen was disbarred in 2010 following a petition filed by an American citizen, Daphne Slyfield, who alleged that he failed to represent her in a court case after being hired and paid for his services.

According to official records, Slyfield submitted a petition to the Supreme Court of New York, prompting the Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts to review the complaint.

The petition accused Imasuen of engaging in “professional misconduct,” leading to the appointment of George Friedman as a special referee to investigate the claims.

In July 2009, Imasuen was officially served with the petition and instructed to respond within 20 days.

The committee cautioned that failure to reply would result in the charges being deemed established.

However, records indicate that he did not respond within the given timeframe and did not seek an extension.

Reports suggest that he returned to Nigeria in 2010, the same year his disbarment took effect.

Since then, he has worked as a consultant for the European Union’s State Reforming Institutional Programme and served as the Jigawa State coordinator for the initiative.

In 2023, he won a seat in the Nigerian Senate, representing Edo South District under the Labour Party.

New York’s legal provisions state that attorneys disbarred due to felony convictions or professional misconduct may apply for reinstatement, but only after a minimum of seven years.

It remains unclear whether Imasuen has sought reinstatement; if he has not, his disbarment remains in effect.

Since reports of his disbarment emerged, the issue has dominated discussions in Nigeria, drawing extensive media coverage.

Multiple attempts by journalists to obtain his reaction have been unsuccessful.

Premium Times contacted Imasuen on Sunday through his known mobile number and followed up with text messages, but he did not respond.

On Wednesday, additional calls were placed to an alternative number linked to him, yet they went unanswered.

A text message sent that day was successfully delivered, but he remained silent.

Further inquiries were sent to his official email on Thursday, but as of the time of this report, there had been no response.

Imasuen, who chairs the Senate ethics committee, recently played a central role in the suspension of Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The suspension followed her accusation of sexual harassment against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

After reviewing a report from the ethics committee led by Imasuen, the Senate, under Akpabio’s leadership, suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months on February 20, citing misconduct and non-compliance with the chamber’s sitting arrangement.

Akpabio had referred the senator’s sexual harassment petition to the ethics committee, but Imasuen ruled that the petition was “dead on arrival” and would not be entertained by the Senate.

Prominent figures within the All Progressives Congress (APC) across Nigeria are reportedly planning a mass defection due to growing dissatisfaction with President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.

Among those expected to leave are former ministers from Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, past governors, and senators.

DAILY GAZETTE reports that former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, officially defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Monday, citing a fundamental disconnect between his values and the APC’s current trajectory.

El-Rufai, who has been a vocal critic of Tinubu’s government, revealed on Wednesday that he sought Buhari’s approval before leaving the party.

His defection triggered a wave of departures, particularly among those who were part of the now-defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which merged with others to form the APC in 2013.

Following El-Rufai’s move, a former House of Representatives member from Katsina, Ahmad Kaita, also joined the SDP.

Similarly, former Kaduna State commissioners Ibrahim Hussaini (Agriculture), Aisha Dikko (Justice), Amina Baloni (Health), and Halima Lawal (Education), along with ex-Head of Service, Hajiya Bari’atu Mohammed, have all abandoned the APC.

In Gombe State, Adamu Modibbo, who served as the APC’s campaign secretary during the 2015 elections, has also defected and now chairs the SDP in the state.

A former senator from the ninth National Assembly, speaking anonymously, disclosed that at least 10 former ministers from Buhari’s administration were making moves to leave the APC.

According to the source, key figures leading the defection include former APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, and former Senate President, Ahmed Lawan.

The source explained, “What they’re waiting for is the finalisation of the party structure in their respective states.”

One of Malami’s close aides also confirmed his involvement in the movement, stating, “It is not about ousting Tinubu in 2027 but about our conviction that we have better and more credible constitutional alternatives to offer Nigerians in governance, particularly with regard to institutionalising a human-centred approach to governance.”

“We collectively abhor the prevailing order in which governance is commercialised to the detriment of Nigerians and their welfare. It seems to be a marriage of tendencies that cut across the existing political parties with high-profile politicians from PDP, defunct CPC, ACN and APC, among others.”

“In personality sense, those involved across the geographical zones include serving and former governors and senators, former ministers, and past and present party officials.”

A reliable source further listed some key political figures involved in the coalition movement, including former governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Emeka Ihedioha (Imo), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), and Rauf Aregbesola (Osun).

Also mentioned were former Senate President David Mark, ex-APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun, former Minister of State for Education Emeka Nwajiuba, and Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South).

An APC chieftain in Imo State confirmed that the CPC faction within the party had finalized plans to leave, stating, “That some ministers who served under Buhari are leaving or will leave the APC is confirmed.

However, they may not join the SDP, but I know they are part of the coalition movement.

“President Tinubu has mismanaged the success of our party, and it is painful that things are going awry every day. APC bigwigs, both in the North and South, are not happy, and the President doesn’t care. You don’t grow by reducing in size. The APC is reducing in size.”

“The CPC bloc of the party has also been leaving. You will agree with me that the CPC is a strong bloc in the APC, and if it is gone, I doubt if the APC will remain the same.”

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, former Minority Leader of the Senate, has denied claims that he staged a protest in the National Assembly demanding the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Abaribe, who represents Abia South in the Senate, was alleged to have carried a placard during a protest that supposedly led to a shutdown of legislative activities.

However, in a statement issued by his media aide, Uchenna Awom, the senator described the report as completely false and urged the public to disregard it.

He argued that the claim was fabricated to undermine ongoing political efforts to secure Kanu’s release.

The statement, titled “Discard as False, Report of Senator Abaribe Disrupting Senate Plenary for Kanu,” reads:

“The office of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has been drawn to a false and very misleading report purporting disruption of Senate Plenary by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe demanding the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu.”

“The report is false and was at best a concoction that defies logic.”

“It was a deliberate misinformation with a sinister motive aimed at sabotaging the ongoing effort at exploring a political solution for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”

The statement further clarified that Senator Abaribe was last present at the Senate on Wednesday before traveling out of Abuja on Thursday for an oversight function in Ikwuano Umuahia, Abia State, organized by the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

“In any case, the Senate does not sit on Fridays plenary sessions only hold from Tuesdays to Thursdays, making the claim of a shutdown on a Friday baseless,” the statement added.

Additionally, the statement emphasized that issues currently before the courts are not debated in the National Assembly.

“The case of Nnamdi Kanu is sub judice, and as a rule, the National Assembly does not interfere in judicial proceedings.”

“Therefore, Senator Abaribe could not have embarked on such an effort, knowing its futility.”

“He did not lead any protest or obstruct legislative proceedings.”

The senator’s office urged the public to dismiss the fabricated report and refrain from spreading unverified information.

The denial follows an earlier online report titled: “Senator Abaribe Shuts Down National Assembly, Demands Immediate Release of Nnamdi Kanu,” which has since been discredited.

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has urged Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rauf Aregbesola, and other opposition leaders to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) ahead of the 2027 general election, rejecting the idea of a political merger.

El-Rufai’s call comes in the wake of his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC) on March 10, citing a growing misalignment of values with the ruling party.

Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa, the former governor called on prominent opposition figures to unite under the SDP’s platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the next election.

“My wishes and prayers are that Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Rauf, and all opposition leaders come and join SDP—not to merge or form a new party, but to build a strong alternative,” El-Rufai stated.

Reflecting on his previous support for Tinubu, he expressed disappointment in the president’s performance.

“What pains me is that the government we supported and had confidence in would do well because we saw what Tinubu did in Lagos despite his challenges,” he said.

“We all know about his issues in Chicago, but we thought if he could replicate his work in Lagos for Nigeria, let’s support him. However, he failed.”

Meanwhile, the Presidency has downplayed concerns over the 2027 election, emphasizing that President Tinubu is currently focused on improving Nigeria’s economic conditions.

In a statement on Friday, Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Bayo Onanuga, insisted that governance remains Tinubu’s priority.

“President Tinubu is not worried about the next election. He’s worried about the shared prosperity that he can bring to Nigerians.

“He’s worried about how the reforms he has put in place will yield the necessary impact. He is concerned about what happens to the economy of this country eventually. That’s the focus,” Onanuga said.

He also pointed to positive economic indicators, including rising foreign reserves, a decline in inflation, an increase in trade surplus, and over $50 billion in new investments.

“We have clear data, and you have a President that is clearly in the driver’s seat, staying the course of his decisions. I think that the next election is not really in his view right now,” he added.

However, El-Rufai has left open the possibility of his own presidential bid in 2027, stating that the decision is not his to make alone.

“It is not for me to decide; it is the party and the people that will decide. Even when I was contesting for governor, it was people that met and convinced Muhammadu Buhari, and he called me and asked me to contest,” he explained.

Former Adamawa State Governor and ex-Minister of Youth Development, Boni Haruna, has debunked reports claiming he is set to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on April 20, 2025, alongside other politicians from the state.

In a statement issued from his Abuja office and personally signed by him, Haruna dismissed the report as false and misleading, reaffirming his commitment to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“For the avoidance of doubt, I have never discussed joining SDP with anyone. I remain a committed member of the PDP,” he stated.

He condemned those behind the spread of what he described as “mischievous fabrications” and urged the public to disregard the claim as fake news.

“Some individuals have made it their business to circulate falsehoods and outright fabrications in the media space. I call on the public to ignore such baseless rumors,” Haruna added.

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has expressed deep regret over his support for President Bola Tinubu, citing what he describes as the president’s failure to meet expectations despite a controversial past marred by allegations of drug-related offenses and certificate forgery.

Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa, El-Rufai admitted that he and others backed Tinubu despite being aware of his legal and ethical controversies, particularly his alleged involvement in narcotics trafficking and the disputed authenticity of his academic credentials.

“What pains me the most is that we supported and had confidence in this government, believing it would deliver results,” El-Rufai stated.

“We saw what Tinubu did in Lagos despite his challenges, and we thought if he could replicate that at the national level, it would be worth it. But, unfortunately, he has failed.”

Referencing Tinubu’s past legal troubles in the United States, El-Rufai acknowledged that supporters were aware of the accusations but hoped his performance as Lagos State governor would translate into national development.

“We all knew about his issues in Chicago, but we overlooked them, thinking his governance experience in Lagos would benefit Nigeria,” he said.

The controversy over Tinubu’s past resurfaced in 2022 when newly unsealed court documents from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois detailed his alleged connection to narcotics trafficking and money laundering, leading to a forfeiture of $460,000 to the U.S. government in 1993.

Additionally, his academic records came under scrutiny after opposition leader, Atiku Abubakar, petitioned the courts to compel Chicago State University (CSU) to release details of Tinubu’s educational history, alleging certificate forgery.

Despite these controversies, El-Rufai and other political allies stood by Tinubu, hoping he would deliver on his campaign promises.

However, the former governor now laments that their expectations have not been met, marking a turning point in his public stance on the Tinubu administration.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced work on its Election Project Plan (EPP) for the 2027 general elections, incorporating lessons learned from the 2023 polls to improve efficiency and transparency.

A senior INEC official to DAILY GAZETTE confirmed that the commission is updating its election templates and refining strategies to enhance the credibility of future elections.

Part of this effort includes developing a 2027–2031 Strategic Plan, which will replace the current 2022 – 2026 Strategic Plan set to expire in December 2026.

Additionally, INEC is working on a transitional document to bridge the gap between 2026 and the 2027 election year, ensuring continuity in election planning.

“The previous strategic plan focused on institutionalizing INEC’s processes, capacity building, and resource management, while the EPP is a more focused document designed specifically for the conduct of a general election,” the official explained.

The Election Project Plan was first introduced for the 2015 general election and has since been a key part of INEC’s preparations for the 2019 and 2023 elections.

Following logistical and technical challenges in the 2023 general election, INEC is reviewing its operational framework to enhance efficiency.

The last election involved 93,469,008 registered voters across 176,846 polling units, requiring the deployment of over 1.5 million personnel and 182,491 vehicles to facilitate the process nationwide.

One of the major setbacks in 2023 was the delay in uploading presidential election results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal, despite successfully managing uploads for National Assembly elections.

A configuration issue in the system caused delays in processing nationwide presidential results.

INEC later resolved the issue through a software update, allowing the first presidential election result sheet to be uploaded later on election day.