The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly criticized the refusal of the Senate to allow Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to return after completing her six-month suspension.
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This was contained in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi on Wednesday .
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In the statement, ADC described the continued obstruction as malicious, illegal, and morally indefensible, warning that it is a direct attack on Nigeria's democracy.
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"The suspension of Senator Natasha was imposed by the Senate, not by a court of law. And whether one agrees with the basis for that decision or not, the tenure of that disciplinary action has lapsed. Any further attempt to prevent her from resuming is therefore both illegal and morally indefensible,ÔÇØ the statement read.
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The ADC argued that the move is not just about Natasha but about setting a dangerous precedent where the will of the people can be ignored.
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"This is not about partisan
politics. It is about a dangerous precedent being set within our legislative institutions, one that reduces democratic representation to the whims of a few individuals rather than the will of the electorate,ÔÇØ Abdullahi said.
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The party stressed that Natasha was elected by the people of Kogi Central to represent them, and denying her access to the chamber "is, by extension, denying her constituents the right to be heard.ÔÇØ
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The statement also revealed that during her suspension, Senator Natasha was cut off from salaries, legislative aides, and access to her office. "These are not privileges, but instruments of public service. To strip an elected senator of these tools is not discipline, it is institutional mugging,ÔÇØ ADC declared.
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The ADC accused the Senate leadership of acting as though they are above the law.
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It added that several Senior Advocates of Nigeria have already affirmed that Natasha's suspension cannot legally be used to block her return. "A pending legal appeal does not suspend constitutional rights, nor does it grant any official the power to override the mandate of the electorate,ÔÇØ ADC stated.
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The party also criticized the Clerk of the National Assembly for refusing to process her return, saying his role is "not to adjudicate but to facilitate.ÔÇØ
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The ADC warned that the treatment of Senator Natasha could further discourage women from participating in
politics.
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"Senator Natasha is one of only four women in a Senate of 109 members. Nigeria's female representation of 2.7% is already among the worst in Africa. Any action that resembles gendered intimidation of the few women in the Senate would only discourage women's participation and make Nigeria appear even worse in the eyes of the world,ÔÇØ the statement said.
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The party concluded: "Nigeria cannot claim to be a democracy while marginalizing half of its population from its most critical spaces of decision-making. What is at stake here is not just one Senate seat, but the integrity of our democracy itself.ÔÇØ
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The ADC then demanded that Senator Natasha be allowed to resume her duties without delay.
