LunagisthubSenate President Akpabio Under Fire: SERAP Demands Reversal of Senator Natasha’s Suspension
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a stern warning to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, urging him to immediately reverse the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The suspension, which was handed down for six months, has been deemed “patently unlawful” by SERAP, who argue that it violates Akpoti-Uduaghan’s right to freedom of expression ¹.
According to SERAP, the suspension was unjustly imposed for Akpoti-Uduaghan’s alleged failure to obtain permission before speaking and refusing to sit in her assigned seat during a plenary session. However, SERAP maintains that these grounds are merely a pretext to silence the senator and restrict her fundamental rights.
A Violation of Human Rights
SERAP has emphasized that the suspension undermines not only Akpoti-Uduaghan’s rights but also the right of her constituency to political participation. The organization has also highlighted that the suspension violates Article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which guarantees citizens the right to political participation through freely chosen representatives.
A Call to Action
SERAP has given Senate President Akpabio 48 hours to reverse the suspension, warning that failure to comply will result in legal action. The organization has urged the Senate to revise parliamentary procedures that unduly restrict senators’ human rights and to uphold the rule of law.
As the situation unfolds, one thing is clear: the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has sparked a national conversation about the importance of protecting human rights and ensuring that elected officials are held accountable for their actions.
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