Ignore NASS, resume plenary, PDP tells senator Natasha

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Kogi Central senator, to ignore the National Assembly’s stance and resume plenary following the completion of her six-month suspension.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had, in a letter dated September 4, informed the National Assembly that her suspension had elapsed and expressed readiness to return to legislative duties.

In response, Yahaya Danzaria, the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, confirmed the expiration of the suspension but urged her to stay away from plenary until court cases surrounding the matter are resolved.

But the PDP rejected the position of the Acting Clerk and insisted that the lawmaker’s constitutional rights cannot continue to be denied.

Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, said in a statement on Tuesday:

“Attempt to use the National Assembly establishment against an elected Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in gross violation of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and the Standing Rules of the Senate is highly provocative and constitutes a clear and present danger to democracy and overall stability of our country.”

The PDP, therefore, charged Akpoti-Uduaghan to resume legislative duties immediately, dismissing the National Assembly’s advice as an excuse to keep her out of office.

Meanwhile, Deji Adeyanju, a human rights lawyer, has advised Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to file a fresh lawsuit against the Nigerian Senate over its refusal to allow her to resume her duties after serving a six-month suspension.

Adeyanju, in a post on his verified X account on Tuesday, described the Senate’s action as unconstitutional.

“The right thing will be to file a fresh case challenging the refusal to let her resume after the 6-month suspension period and the unconstitutional act of the Clerk of NASS taking the decision when the law is clear that only her colleagues can take such an action in parliament,” Adeyanju said.

He acknowledged that the case might be prolonged in court but insisted that the senator should proceed with legal action.

“[The] court might drag Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s case on for a long time, but she should still file the action nonetheless for posterity’s sake,” he said.

Adeyanju also advised the lawmaker to release evidence against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

“This should be a good time to release the evidence against Akpabio so that she can win in court of public opinion,” the lawyer said.