The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned an alleged attempt by the Clerk of the National Assembly to bar Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, from resuming at the Senate after the six-month suspension imposed on her by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
Debo Ologunagba, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP in a statement issued on Tuesday, stated that the reported action by the Clerk of the National Assembly smacked of a calculated attempt being orchestrated by the Akpabio-led All Progressives Congress (APC) Senate leadership to abridge 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.
The PDP also described the attempt to use the National Assembly establishment against an elected Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as ” a gross violation of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 (as amended) and the Standing Rules of the Senate”
The party further described the action as “highly provocative and constitutes a clear threat and present danger to democracy and overall stability of our Country.”
It said the move was part of the APC-led Federal Government to suffocate the opposition which further confirms the creeping totalitarianism in our Country under the APC Government.
“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 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”, the statement noted.
Recall that the Senator who was suspended on the 6th of March, 2025 was prevented from returning to the Senate after the expiration of the six-month suspension.
Ibrahim Danzaria, Clerk to the National Assembly said that the Senate had in a letter dated September 4, 2025, informed Akpoti-Uduaghan that she could not resume since the matter is still pending at the Court of Appeal.
But the PDP cautioned 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 also called “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 demanded 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.”
