Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has launched another scathing attack on the leadership of the National Assembly, accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of treating his colleagues with “disdain” and running the chamber like a private fiefdom.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, September 23, shortly after her office was unsealed, the lawmaker representing Kogi Central condemned her suspension from parliamentary activities, describing it as illegal and undemocratic.
“Sometimes, it’s good to put institutions to the test. We can’t cower in the face of injustice. No one is more Nigerian than we are. Senator Akpabio is not more of a senator than I am—he’s not the governor of this place. Yet, he treated me as if I were his servant or a domestic staff in his house,” she declared.
Akpoti-Uduaghan decried what she called the erosion of democratic values in the legislature. “It’s very unfortunate that at this point, after so many years of democracy, we have a National Assembly being run like a dictatorship. It’s totally unacceptable,” she added.
Despite her suspension, the PDP senator said she continued to discharge her responsibilities to the people of Kogi Central. According to her, she worked daily to attract infrastructure, projects, and employment opportunities for her constituents.
“I didn’t want them to suffer from the neglect and vacuum created by this injustice,” she said.
The lawmaker also expressed gratitude to civil society organizations, political parties, and notable figures who supported her during her ordeal. She mentioned leaders such as Atiku Abubakar and Bukola Saraki, rights groups like the Nigerian Bar Association and Nigerian Labour Congress, and opposition parties including Labour Party and ADC, whom she credited with mounting pressure that forced the Senate leadership to review its stance.
Turning to the press, Akpoti-Uduaghan praised journalists for their coverage but acknowledged the risks they face. “Intimidation is real. You have families to care for, and sadly, we live in a country today where life often seems to mean very little. I don’t blame you,” she said.
