ADC, Ex-Kaduna AG demand senate allow Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to resume after suspension

Nigerians Online News Desk September 11, 2025

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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Kaduna State Attorney-General, Mark Jacobs, have called on the Senate leadership to allow Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) to resume her legislative duties following the expiration of her six-month suspension.

In a statement on Sunday, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, accused the Senate of acting “illegally and immorally” by preventing Akpoti-Uduaghan from returning to her seat despite completing her suspension.

“The African Democratic Congress 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. We consider this development not only malicious but also deeply injurious to the spirit of our constitutional democracy, especially the right to dissent,” Abdullahi said.

Supporting the party’s stance, Mark Jacobs argued on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief that the lawmaker did not require a concluded judicial process to reclaim her seat.

“What I see is a further display of impunity gone wild. The Senate suspended this woman for six months, and when those six months expired, she should have been allowed to resume her seat. Six months should be six months, no discussion, no hesitation,” Jacobs stated.

He criticised the Senate for what he described as frustrating the judicial process through repeated preliminary objections, instead of allowing the substantive case to be heard. “If they believe they have evidence against her, let the matter proceed in court. But you can’t stall the case and at the same time deny her return after the suspension period has lapsed,” he added.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended in March 2025 for violating Senate rules. She challenged the suspension in court in July and made an unsuccessful attempt to return before the upper chamber, but her seat remains blocked despite the suspension period ending.