The saga began in March after a heated dispute over seating arrangements between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Following her protest, the senator was walked out of the chamber and subsequently suspended for six months.
Akpoti-Uduaghan later accused Akpabio of targeting her after she allegedly rejected his sexual advances, a claim the Senate President strongly denied. The Senate, in defending the decision, insisted that the suspension had nothing to do with sexual allegations but was due to her breach of parliamentary rules.
Despite a Federal High Court ruling in July that described the suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional,” the Senate maintained its stance, refusing to allow her return. Justice Binta Nyako had ordered her reinstatement, stressing that keeping a lawmaker away for 180 days of a 181-day legislative period deprived her constituents of fair representation.
On August 28, Akpoti-Uduaghan formally notified the Clerk of the National Assembly of her readiness to resume on September 4 after completing the six-month suspension. However, the Senate, through Acting Clerk Yahaya Danzaria, insisted her suspension would continue until the Court of Appeal delivers judgment in her pending suit against the chamber.
This decision has drawn sharp criticism from legal experts and civil society, with many describing the Senate’s position as “petty,” “vindictive,” and unconstitutional. Critics argue that the chamber’s defiance undermines democratic principles and breaches Section 68 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees every constituency representation.
The prolonged suspension is reminiscent of previous punitive measures taken against lawmakers like Ovie Omo-Agege, Abdul Ningi, and Ali Ndume, raising concerns about the Senate’s overreach and disregard for judicial authority.
Observers warn that if Akpoti-Uduaghan ultimately wins her case, taxpayers will bear the financial consequences of the Senate’s intransigence. More importantly, the ongoing impasse continues to disenfranchise the people of Kogi Central and tarnish Nigeria’s democratic image.
Calls are now mounting on the Senate to exercise maturity, resolve the crisis politically, and immediately allow Akpoti-Uduaghan to resume her duties. Analysts insist that legislative discretion, not pettiness, is the true test of leadership.
