Fatoumatta Njai, a parliamentarian from The Gambia, has urged the Nigerian Senate to promptly reinstate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central, who has been suspended since February 2025.
As the chairperson of the Gender and Children’s Welfare Committee in the Gambian legislature, Njai conveyed her appeal in a letter dated September 9, 2025, addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
This call to action follows the Nigerian Senate’s refusal to allow Akpoti-Uduaghan to return to her senatorial duties on September 4, despite her formal notification to the National Assembly Clerk that her six-month suspension period had ended.
Njai condemned the ongoing suspension as both illegal and disproportionate, emphasizing that it violates Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution and undermines the authority of the judiciary.
“If it can happen to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan today, it could happen to any of us tomorrow,” Njai asserted.
“Given that the six-month suspension has expired, I strongly advocate for her immediate reinstatement.”
She referenced the July 4, 2025 ruling by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, which deemed a six-month suspension for a legislator as excessive.
Njai criticized the Senate for ignoring this judicial decision by barring Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming her responsibilities since July 22.
“By extending the suspension beyond the legally mandated six months, the Senate flagrantly disregards its own procedural rules,” Njai stated.
“Such actions represent a blatant violation of the rule of law and a disrespect for the court’s verdict. True leadership should not involve silencing those who courageously speak the truth with integrity.”
She highlighted that Akpoti-Uduaghan is a vital voice not only for her Kogi Central constituents but also for women and youth throughout Nigeria who seek fairness, transparency, and equitable representation.
“As the most populous nation in ECOWAS, Nigeria has a responsibility to lead by example within the region,” Njai emphasized.
“I earnestly call on the Senate to recall Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan without delay, as postponing justice equates to denying it. Her immediate return to the Senate is imperative.”
It is recalled that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension began on February 27, 2025, following a contentious dispute with Senate President Akpabio regarding alterations to seating arrangements.
The Senate accused her of “gross misconduct” and has since resisted efforts to reinstate her to the chamber.
