The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Sam Amadi, has criticised the Nigerian Senate for turning down the decision of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, to return to the Senate.
News360 Info reports that Amadi, while responding to questions in an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, described the Senate’s action as an abuse of senatorial privileges.
According to him, the Clerk of the National Assembly is not a parliamentarian and cannot authorise a continued suspension of a member.
He lamented that National Assembly members make rules themselves but do not follow them.
He said, “This is a case of overreach. An abuse of privileges of the senators themselves.
“The National Assembly has the power to suspend its member, but that suspension has to be within the proceeding of that House.
“It’s totally wrong that parliament process awaits judicial determination. The parliament had immunity and self-control. In fact, judicial interventions do not stop parliamentary proceedings.”
Meanwhile, former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, has urged the Nigerian Senate to allow embattled Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to resume her duties.
In a strongly worded statement addressed to the Nigerian Senate, the judiciary, and citizens, Ezekwesili said that the suspension undermines constitutional governance and the rule of law.
She argued that allowing the lawmaker’s suspension to linger risks eroding public confidence in democratic institutions.
Ezekwesili warned the Senate to respect constitutional provisions and ensure the prompt restoration of the senator’s mandate.
