Toba Owojaiye reporting
Abuja, Nigeria
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken legal action against Senate President Godswill Akpabio over what it calls the “patently unlawful suspension” of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, arguing that the move suppresses freedom of expression and undermines democratic representation.
Truth Live News gathered that Akpoti-Uduaghan, the only female senator from Kogi State, was suspended for six months after reportedly speaking without permission and refusing to take a reassigned seat in the Senate chamber. As part of the suspension, her salary and allowances have been withheld, and she has been barred from identifying herself as a senator—a move that SERAP contends is unjust and discriminatory.
The case has raised broader concerns about the silencing of female voices in Nigerian politics, with activists and legal experts questioning whether the Senate’s action reflects deeper gender biases. The suspension not only affects Akpoti-Uduaghan but also deprives her constituents in Kogi Central of representation for six months—an issue that particularly impacts women and marginalized groups in her district who look up to her for leadership.
“The Senate should be setting an example by upholding the rule of law and promoting and protecting human rights, not stamping them out,” SERAP argued in its lawsuit. “No one should ever be punished for ‘speaking without permission.’ Being a senator does not deprive Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan of her fundamental human rights.”
Filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/498/2025, the case seeks:
An order of mandamus directing and compelling Akpabio to rescind the suspension, reinstate Akpoti-Uduaghan, and restore all her legislative rights.
An order of perpetual injunction restraining the Senate from further suspending or taking disciplinary action against her solely for exercising her fundamental human rights.
A declaration that the application of sections 6(1)(2) of the Senate Rules, as amended in 2023, violates Akpoti-Uduaghan’s human rights and deprives her constituents of political participation.
Women’s rights advocates argue that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension is not just a procedural issue but part of a larger trend of shutting out female voices in governance.
“The unlawful restriction of Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s right to freedom of expression has indirectly violated Nigerians’ right to receive information and ideas,” SERAP’s legal team, represented by Kolawole Oluwadare and Adelanke Aremo, stated. “This move seriously undermines the right of her constituency to political participation.”
SERAP further contends that punishing a senator for expressing herself creates a “chilling effect” on other lawmakers, deterring them from freely debating issues of national importance. Citing Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the rights group insists that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension contradicts both domestic and international legal standards.
“The suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has restricted and seriously undermined the ability of the residents of her Kogi Central Senatorial District to effectively participate in their own government,” SERAP added. “Given the impracticality of direct participation of all citizens, Article 13 of the African Charter provides that a citizen shall exercise political power either directly or through freely chosen representatives.”
Beyond legal arguments, this case serves as a critical test of Nigeria’s commitment to gender inclusion and free speech. With the Beijing Declaration’s 30% affirmative action on women’s political representation still struggling for full implementation, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s case highlights the hurdles women in power continue to face.
“The right to express one’s opinion is of paramount importance, not only because it oils the engine of a representative democracy but also because it creates a free and open environment,” the lawsuit asserts. “The Senate Standing Orders 2023 (as amended) should not and cannot set aside Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s right to express herself and disseminate her opinions, which is clearly guaranteed in Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution.”
While the legal battle unfolds, observers will be watching closely to see if the court will uphold the constitutional rights of a female senator or allow what many see as a dangerous precedent against free speech and women’s participation in governance.
No date has been set for the hearing.