Akpoti-Uduaghan had, in a letter dated August 28, 2025,
notified the clerk to the national assembly of her intention to resume on
September 4, the date she said marked the end of her six-month suspension.

But on Tuesday, the national assembly had prevented
Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming legislative duties, insisting that her suspension
is still a subject of litigation.

In a statement during the week, Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC’s
national publicity secretary, said the refusal of the senate leadership to
allow the Kogi lawmaker resume her duties is “abusive and morally
indefensible”.

He noted that the suspension, which was not imposed by a
court of law, has lapsed, and extending it indefinitely is “a violation of the
constitution and the mandate of the people”.

“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) observes with deep
concern the continued obstruction of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from
resuming her seat in the Nigerian Senate after the completion of her six-month
suspension,” Abdullahi said.

“We consider this development not only malicious, but also
deeply injurious to the spirit of our constitutional democracy, especially the
right to dissent. Any further attempt to prevent her from resuming is therefore
both illegal and morally indefensible.”

The party said Akpoti-Uduaghan’s constituents are being
denied representation, noting that she was also stripped of her salaries,
aides, and access to her office during her suspension.

“To strip an elected senator of these tools is not
discipline, it is institutional mugging,” Abdullahi said.

The ADC criticised the Godswill Akpabio-led senate
leadership for acting as though “legislative power can be exercised without
accountability”.

“Several respected Senior Advocates of Nigeria have rightly
observed that Senator Natasha’s suspension, having fully lapsed, can no longer
be used as a justification to deny her return,” Abdullahi added.

“A pending legal appeal does not suspend constitutional
rights, nor does it grant any official the power to override the mandate of the
electorate.”

The party also faulted the clerk of the national assembly
for refusing to process her resumption on the grounds that the matter is sub
judice.

“His role is not to adjudicate but to facilitate. When the
administrative machinery becomes hostage to political interests, the
institution itself is diminished,” Abdullahi said.

The ADC expressed worry that Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only
four women in the 109-member senate, is being “unfairly targeted” in a way that
could discourage women’s political participation.

“Nigeria’s paltry female representation of 2.7 percent is
already among the worst in Africa,” Abdullahi said.

“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.”

The party demanded that Natasha be allowed to resume her
legislative duties without further delay.