The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio to immediately reverse the six-month suspension imposed on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. SERAP has labeled the suspension “patently unlawful” and an infringement on the senator’s fundamental right to freedom of expression. The call follows a series of events that led to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension after allegations of misconduct, which include speaking without permission and refusing to take her new seat in the Senate chamber.
The suspension, which was announced last week, has not only prevented Akpoti-Uduaghan from participating in Senate proceedings but has also led to the withholding of her salary and allowances for the duration of the suspension. Additionally, the senator has been barred from identifying herself as a member of the Senate. These actions have sparked public debate over the limits of parliamentary discipline and individual rights.
In an open letter dated March 8, 2025, Kolawole Oluwadare, Deputy Director of SERAP, addressed the Senate President, demanding that the suspension be reversed. The letter makes clear that SERAP would pursue legal action if the Senate President does not comply within 48 hours. “No one should ever be punished for ‘speaking without permission’. Being a senator does not deprive Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan of her fundamental human rights,” the letter asserts.
The letter further explains that the suspension violates Akpoti-Uduaghan’s constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of expression, as stipulated in Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution. Additionally, SERAP points to Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which further safeguards these rights on an international scale. SERAP emphasized that the Senate’s actions were both “unlawful and disproportionate.”
Oluwadare, representing SERAP, stated, “The Senate should be setting an example by upholding the rule of law and promoting and protecting fundamental human rights, not stamping them out.” He further condemned the suspension as an example of an abuse of power, one that undermines the principles of democracy and free speech.
The letter from SERAP also criticized the Senate for limiting the political rights of the people of Kogi Central Senatorial District, whom Akpoti-Uduaghan represents. “The suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has restricted and seriously undermined the ability of the residents of her constituency to participate in their own government,” the letter reads, highlighting the impact that the suspension has on the senator’s constituents.
With the legal implications of the suspension now in play, SERAP has called on the Senate to not only reinstate Akpoti-Uduaghan but also to amend its standing orders to prevent the imposition of undue restrictions on freedom of expression in the future. The organization warned that without immediate action from Senate leadership, it would be forced to seek judicial intervention to address the unlawful suspension.
SERAP emphasized that the Senate’s Standing Orders 2023 should not be used to undermine the constitutional rights of elected officials. “Any restrictions on free speech must be lawful, necessary, and proportionate,” SERAP argued, making clear that the battle over Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension may soon escalate to the courts if the Senate does not act swiftly to address the issue.
