Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio is “vindictive” and “intolerant of opposition,” linking these traits to the ongoing suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. In an interview, Effiong claimed that Akpabio would “go to any extent to trample on the rights of people.”
The controversy centers on Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension, which was handed down on March 6, 2025, after she was accused of insubordination for refusing to change her designated seat. Despite the senator’s claim that her suspension period has ended and her intention to resume duties, the Senate has formally rejected her request.
In a letter signed by the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, the Senate stated that the matter is “sub judice” as it is before the Court of Appeal, and therefore, no administrative action can be taken until the judicial process is concluded.
Effiong was highly critical of the Senate’s stance, describing the six-month suspension as unjust and politically motivated. He argued that the punishment has effectively denied the people of Kogi Central District proper representation. “For six months that the people of Kogi Central District who voted for her, they have not had representation,” he said.
Effiong, who hails from the same state as Akpabio, insisted that the Senate President’s alleged vindictiveness is well-known. “He doesn’t have a forgiving spirit… You don’t oppose Akpabio and get away with it. So that’s what is happening to Natasha now.”
In a conflicting report, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer, Victor Giwa, confirmed that the lawmaker will return to the National Assembly later this month. He said the suspension has expired and that he expects no obstacles, stating that the Senate leadership is “ready to welcome her.”
