PDP: Akpabio, clerk threaten democracy by blocking Natasha’s reinstatement

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Acting Clerk of the National Assembly, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, of working to prevent Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from returning to the Senate, despite a court ruling that overturned her suspension.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the party described the move as a blatant violation of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Standing Rules of the Senate, stressing that using the National Assembly's machinery against a duly elected senator is both unlawful and provocative.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, was suspended on March 6, 2025, after the Senate adopted a committee report accusing her of insubordination for refusing to vacate her assigned seat. The six month suspension stripped her of salary, staff, and access to her office. She has since claimed the suspension was politically motivated and tied to a petition she filed against Akpabio, accusing him of sexual harassment an allegation the Senate later dismissed.

Following the suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan challenged the decision in court and won a judgment in her favour. Despite the ruling, the Senate maintained its stance that she must complete the full term of suspension. In July, security operatives blocked her from accessing the chamber, while supporters gathered outside in protest. Her lawyer, Victor Giwa, said she intended to resume work once the Senate reconvenes on September 23.

However, in a letter dated September 4, Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, stated that the suspension remains in effect pending the outcome of a Court of Appeal decision. This has drawn renewed criticism from the PDP, which sees the move as part of a broader effort to silence opposition voices in the legislature.

The party also raised alarms over what it described as a pattern of political harassment, particularly targeting women in power. It referenced past allegations involving Akpabio and claimed the current situation fits a “sustained attempt to stifle the voices of women” in Nigeria’s democratic space. According to the PDP, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s ordeal amounts to “extreme persecution.”

The PDP demanded that the clerk withdraw the controversial letter and warned against further interference in the senator’s return. It also called on the international community, rights groups, and democratic institutions to speak out and condemn what it views as an attack on the rule of law and democratic representation.