KEY POINTS
- Labour Party insists Senator Natasha must be reinstated.
- Court voided suspension on July 4, 2025.
- Foreign voices condemn Senate’s defiance of ruling.
Nigeria’s Labour Party has demanded that Senate leaders immediately reinstate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, insisting her six-month suspension expired long ago and a July court ruling voided it.
The call comes amid mounting pressure from international voices, including a U.S. diplomat and a Gambian lawmaker, who criticized the Senate for defying the courts.
National Publicity Secretary Tony Akeni said the party’s position was rooted in both democratic principles and respect for judicial authority. “Justice delayed is justice denied. Senator Natasha must resume her duties without further delay,” he said in Abuja on Saturday.
Court order defied despite July ruling
The controversy stems from a July 4, 2025, Federal High Court judgment that overturned Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension and ordered her unhindered return. Despite the ruling, the Senate, led by President Godswill Akpabio, has yet to comply.
Akeni drew attention to a letter from Fatoumatta Njai, a Gambian lawmaker and Pan-African Parliament member, who condemned what she called the “imperious power play” by Nigeria’s Senate leadership. Her letter, shared by a U.S. diplomat, stressed that disobedience of a subsisting judgment undermines democratic stability across West Africa.
Senator Natasha case tests rule of law
Njai warned that silencing Akpoti-Uduaghan sends a dangerous signal across the region. “Leadership is not about silencing voices, especially those who speak truth with courage and integrity,” she wrote.
The Labour Party’s stance adds to growing criticism from Nigerian legal figures, including former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who faulted the Senate’s refusal to obey court orders. The dispute has now become a litmus test for Nigeria’s adherence to the rule of law at a time when regional partners are watching closely.
For the LP, the issue goes beyond one lawmaker. “Nigeria needs all its voices at the table,” Akeni said, urging Senate leaders to respect judicial authority and restore Akpoti-Uduaghan to her seat.
