Wednesday, September 10, 2025 -The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned an alleged attempt by the acting clerk of the National Assembly to stop Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming at the Senate after what it called an unjust six months’ suspension imposed on her by the Senate leadership.
The Senate clerk had sent a letter to the suspended senator
saying she cannot resume after the completion of her six-months suspension
since the matter is in court and until the legal process is completed, she
cannot resume for her legislative activities in the red chamber
In a statement signed by its national publicity secretary,
Debo Ologunagba, the party said the reported action by the clerk smacked of a
‘calculated attempt being orchestrated by the Senator Godswill Akpabio-led All
Progressives Congress (APC) Senate leadership to breach the right of
representation of the people of Kogi Central Senatorial District and deny them
a voice at the highest law-making body in the country.’
PDP in its statement said the attempt to use the National
Assembly establishment against an elected Senator in gross violation of the
provisions of the Constitution and Standing Rules of the Senate is highly
provocative and constitutes a clear and present danger to democracy and overall
stability of our country.
“It also
comes as parts of the antics being deployed severally by the APC-controlled
Senate and the Federal Government to suffocate the opposition which further
confirms the creeping totalitarianism in our country under the APC government,”
Ologungaba said in a statement
He said the reported action by the Clerk of the National
Assembly against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan further brings to the fore the
allegations of attacks on the right of women and sustained attempts to stifle
their voices as witnessed in the various accusations of harassment against
women levelled against the current Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio
over the years.
“The PDP
demands that the Senate President should come clean on the various allegations
instead of seeking to use the National Assembly establishment to further
harass, intimidate and keep Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan away from the Senate.
The extreme
persecution of six months suspension unjustly imposed on Senator
Akpoti-Uduaghan, contrary to the Rules of the Senate is more than enough and
the PDP stands with the people of Kogi Central and all well-meaning Nigerians
in condemning this unwarranted renewed attack on Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Our Party
strongly cautions the Clerk of the National Assembly to withdraw the said
letter and play by the rules by being neutral as a bureaucrat and not allow
himself to be politically entangled and used as a tool to undermine democracy
and the Rule of Law in the National Assembly and Nigeria.
The PDP
calls on the International Community, Democracy Institutions, Right Advocacy
Groups and other democracy development partners to rise up in condemnation of
this renewed attack on Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
While
charging Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to discountenance the reported letter by the
Clerk of the National Assembly and get ready to resume at the Senate, the PDP
demands that the Senate leadership ensures that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is
allowed to resume her duties and perform her roles as an elected Senator of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria unhindered,” PDP said
0 Comments