SERAP Gives Senate President 48-Hour Ultimatum to Reverse Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Suspension
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, demanding the immediate reversal of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension or face legal action.
The organization condemned the suspension, stating it was solely based on the senator’s peaceful exercise of her constitutionally and internationally recognized right to freedom of expression.
In an open letter dated March 8, 2025, and signed by its deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP urged the Senate to reinstate Akpoti-Uduaghan and revise parliamentary procedures that unduly restrict lawmakers’ fundamental rights.
“No one should ever be punished for ‘speaking without permission.’ Being a senator does not deprive Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan of her fundamental human rights,” the letter stated.
The Senate had, last week, suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months after she allegedly spoke without permission and refused to take a reassigned seat in the upper legislative chamber. As a consequence, she was barred from representing herself as a senator, and her salary and allowances were withheld for the duration of the suspension.
SERAP criticized the decision as unlawful, unnecessary, and disproportionate. “Punishing Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan solely for peacefully expressing herself is a violation of her rights and sets a dangerous precedent. Her suspension will also have a chilling effect on other senators’ ability to freely express themselves,” the group said.
The organization insisted that the suspension appears to be a pretext for restricting the senator’s fundamental rights. It called on the Senate to align its Standing Orders with constitutional and international human rights norms, ensuring that freedom of expression is protected rather than suppressed.
SERAP further warned that failure to act within 48 hours of receiving or publishing the letter would prompt legal action to compel compliance.
“The right to freedom of expression is not only a fundamental human right but also a cornerstone of democracy. Suppressing Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s voice undermines the essence of a free and open legislative process,” SERAP emphasized.
