Former Adamawa North Senator Elisha Ishaku Abbo has launched a scathing attack on Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Nigerian Senate, accusing them of political bias and authoritarianism in the suspension of Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Speaking on Arise News Channel�s *PrimeTime* show on Wednesday night, Abbo also dismissed ongoing efforts to recall Akpoti-Uduaghan from the 10th Senate as fraudulent and baseless.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, currently suspended from the Red Chamber, is facing a recall campaign initiated by some of her constituents, who have submitted a petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) citing dissatisfaction with her legislative performance. However, Abbo staunchly defended her, asserting that the recall process was marred by forged signatures and lacked legitimacy. �Nobody can recall Natasha,� he declared. �Take note and write it down, we are not a banana republic. They went to forge signatures.�
Abbo�s criticism centered on what he described as Akpabio�s heavy-handed and unfair treatment of Akpoti-Uduaghan. He alleged that the Senate President imposed a six-month suspension on her, withdrew her security detail, halted her salary, and barred her from the National Assembly premises�measures Abbo claimed endangered her life. �When you withdraw somebody�s security�which is not right�that means you are exposing her to be killed,� he warned, suggesting that the Inspector General of Police had wisely refrained from fully complying with Akpabio�s directive to avoid potential backlash.
Drawing a comparison to his own tenure in the Senate, Abbo questioned the consistency of Akpabio�s leadership. He recalled a dispute between Akpabio and former Senate President Bukola Saraki during the 8th Senate over a seating arrangement, which was resolved amicably. �In the case of Natasha, it took a different dimension,� Abbo said. �He sat like the emperor that he claims he is and said the woman should be suspended for six months.� He argued that if Akpabio faced no suspension for a similar issue, the decision to punish Akpoti-Uduaghan was unjust and politically motivated.
Abbo further accused the Senate of acting in contempt of court by suspending Akpoti-Uduaghan despite an existing court order. �The Senate went against the court judgement and suspended her�that is contempt of court,� he stated. He criticized a subsequent judicial decision in which a judge vacated the order barring her suspension and recused himself from the case, calling the move �cowardly� and suggesting that Akpabio should have faced arrest for defying the court.
Urging Akpoti-Uduaghan to remain steadfast, Abbo said, �Senator Natasha should continue doing what she is doing.� His remarks have reignited debate over the Senate�s internal processes, the treatment of its members, and the integrity of recall efforts in Nigeria�s political landscape. As the controversy unfolds, all eyes will be on INEC�s response to the recall petition and the Senate�s next steps regarding Akpoti-Uduaghan�s suspension.
