By Zara Maisango
In a dramatic turn of events, a delegation of opposition senators, led by Senator Seriake Dickson, visited the suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan at her residence, pledging to intervene in the controversial decision that has rocked the Senate.
The visit, which took place Friday evening, came after Senator Dickson had been occupied with the three-day workshop on the Tax Reform Bills, preventing his participation in the emergency Ethics Committee seating that led to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension. Expressing his surprise at the sudden deliberation, Dickson clarified that he was assured the hearing on the matter would hold on March 11, only to later learn that the process had been fast-tracked in his absence.
Accompanied by fellow opposition senators, Dickson extended words of encouragement and solidarity to Natasha and her husband, emphasizing that beyond political affiliations, senators rally around each other in trying times.
“Senators, like all humans, have their low and high moments. It is our tradition to support one another during such times,” he stated.
Acknowledging that this was his first opportunity to hear directly from Akpoti-Uduaghan and her husband, Dickson promised to engage with other lawmakers and Senate leadership to explore avenues for resolving the suspension. The development sets the stage for a potential high-stakes negotiation within the Senate chambers, as political tempers flare over the circumstances surrounding the decision.
With opposition forces now mobilizing, the coming days could see a major showdown over the fate of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Will the Senate leadership yield to pressure, or will the embattled senator remain sidelined? The nation watches.