The suspension of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has sparked condemnation, with prominent businessman and founder of Anap Foundation, Atedo Peterside, describing it as a blatant disregard for the will of her constituents.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Peterside criticized the Senate’s decision, calling it troubling and undemocratic.
“The most disturbing aspect of the Nigerian Senate hullabaloo around Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is that the Senate leadership must be aware that her six-month suspension is ultra vires and also disrespectful to her constituents in Kogi State, but they don’t care,” he wrote.
The suspension, announced on Thursday, follows a heated dispute between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan, which began over a seat arrangement issue on February 20, 2025. The rift escalated when she accused Akpabio of sexual harassment and abuse of office—a claim he vehemently denied.
In response, the Senate referred Akpoti-Uduaghan to its disciplinary committee, which, on March 5, dismissed her petition against Akpabio, citing procedural violations. The next day, she resubmitted her complaint, refusing to back down. Meanwhile, she has filed a ₦100 billion defamation lawsuit against Akpabio and obtained a court order barring the Senate from enforcing her suspension.
This is not the first public clash between the two lawmakers. In July 2024, Akpabio was forced to apologize to Akpoti-Uduaghan over a controversial nightclub remark.
With legal battles underway and public outrage mounting, many are questioning whether the Senate’s move was a disciplinary action or a politically motivated attempt to silence an outspoken senator.