Former minister of education Oby Ezekwesili has asked the Senate to reverse the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and allow her to resume legislative duties.
In a memo addressed to the Senate on Wednesday, the judiciary and citizens, Mrs Ezekwesili said the suspension of the Kogi Central lawmaker was unconstitutional and should be rescinded without delay.
She said the Senate’s decision amounted to misuse of public office powers and called on lawmakers to demonstrate commitment to justice, constitutional governance and the rule of law.
Ezekwesili urged Nigerians to take a collective stand against what she described as a breach of the Constitution, stressing that the crisis had lingered for six months.
She warned that when the Senate acted as both accuser and judge, accountability was lost, noting that the matter involving Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan should not be dismissed as a personal quarrel.
According to her, the suspension raised wider questions about citizens’ rights and the protection of democracy.
“Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s right to resume duties was explicitly affirmed in Justice Nyako’s ruling. She has served out the unconstitutional suspension. Our collective defense of her immediate return defends every Nigerian’s right against public power abuse,” she wrote.
Ezekwesili urged the Senate to recall Akpoti-Uduaghan and called on Nigerians to unify their voices in defense of democratic values.
“To the Senate and Senators: Rescind your unconstitutional decision immediately. Recall Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan without delay. Cease your scandalous misappropriation of public office powers to break laws and breach our Constitution. Demonstrate that Nigeria’s commitment to justice, constitutional governance, and rule of law is substantive, not rhetorical. End this hubris now.
“To Fellow Nigerians: Unify our voices and take a collective stand against this continuing constitutional assault. Six months of this crisis is already too many”, she added.
