The Senate has dismissed the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) criticism of its handling of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, insisting that the National Assembly is not a partisan platform.
Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South) told BusinessDay that the PDP was entitled to issue statements in defence of its members but stressed that such positions did not alter the rules guiding the legislature.
He said, “The PDP is her party, so they are supposed to issue a statement. We don’t expect the PDP to issue a complimentary statement.
“The National Assembly is a different genre. The National Assembly is not a political party. It’s not a partisan platform.”
His remarks followed a statement by the PDP, accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the APC-led leadership of plotting to prevent Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) from returning to the Red Chamber after her six-month suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, suspended on March 6 after a clash with Akpabio over seating arrangements during plenary, had written to the National Assembly on September 4 notifying of her intention to resume.
But the Acting Clerk, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, replied that her suspension remained tied to a pending appeal court case.
It stressed that her suspension cannot be reviewed until the judicial process is fully concluded.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was assured that she would be officially informed of the Senate’s final position once the case is resolved.
The National Assembly letter read, “The matter, therefore, remains subjudice, and until the judicial process is concluded and the Senate formally lifts the suspension in the light of the court’s pronouncement.
”No administrative action can be taken by this office to facilitate your resumption. You will be duly notified of the Senate’s decision on the matter as soon as it is resolved.”
Piqued by the letter, the PDP, through Debo Ologunagba, the spokesperson, described the action as a calculated attempt to silence the opposition.
“This reported action by the Clerk of the National Assembly smacks of a calculated attempt being orchestrated by the Akpabio-led 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 opposition party argued that the move violated the 1999 Constitution and the Standing Rules of the Senate, calling it “a direct assault on the rule of law and democratic governance.”
“It also comes as part of the antics being deployed by the APC-controlled Senate and the Federal Government to suffocate the opposition, which further confirms the creeping totalitarianism in our country under the APC government,” Ologunagba added.
The PDP further linked the development to alleged harassment of women in politics, urging Akpabio to “come clean” on the accusations instead of using his office to “further harass, intimidate and keep Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan away from the Senate.”
It also warned the Clerk to remain neutral:
“Our party strongly cautions the Clerk of the National Assembly to play by the rules by being neutral and not allow himself to be politically entangled and used as a tool to undermine democracy and the rule of law,” the statement read.
The PDP called on the international community, democracy institutions, and human rights groups to intervene, while charging Akpoti-Uduaghan to resume her duties without intimidation.
But Adaramodu countered that the Senate was only acting in line with its standing rules and court processes.
Speaking at a workshop for Senate correspondents, he urged journalists to better educate Nigerians on parliamentary procedures, particularly on issues like seating arrangements, which triggered the Natasha-Akpabio row.
“If you are supposed to sit on seat number 10 and you go and sit on seat number 13, you will not be recognised by the president. And if the affected person insists that he or she must be recognised, katakata will surely come up,” he said.
He added that seats were not permanent in the Senate and could be reallocated by the presiding officer at any time.
“The National Assembly is not a banana republic where there are no laws. Our laws must be obeyed by us and understood by Nigerians who are to be educated on them by those of you covering the Senate,” Adaramodu said
