Former Action Democratic Party (ADP) candidate Mathias Tsado has criticized the Senate for treating Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, calling her the institution’s “star girl,” who deserves to be celebrated, not suspended.
Tsado berated the Senate’s decision to reinstate the Kogi Central lawmaker despite a Federal High Court order overturning her suspension while appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday.
According to a poll conducted by the API (Africa Polling Institute), 82 percent of Nigerians don’t trust the country’s Senate. They are now attacking their star girl, who is supposed to be their number nine striker.
Senator Natasha continues to influence the lives of the people despite all of this. Many young people have benefited from her as a source of inspiration. The Senate ought to have commended her by saying, “You are our star girl,” Tsado said.
They “Have No Right To Admit Her,” they claim.
The Senate acknowledged the verdict, but it still needs to obtain the CTC to make a decision.
Tsado claimed that the Senate, in spite of the court’s ruling, had no legal standing to postpone her return.
It’s unfortunate that we’ve restricted our role as a nation to these kinds of considerations. We immediately became aware of Natasha’s mishandling by the Senate. It is inspiring for a woman to fight her way into the Senate against all odds.
“But the Senate insists that it must submit the CTC’s report. They don’t have the first right to admit her. Sadly, Nigeria’s judgments, which are supposed to be concise and unambiguous, are subject to selective enforcement.
Would they be awaiting the CTC if the judge had ordered Senator Natasha to be imprisoned? Did they wait until the CTC before talking about it when she was found guilty of contempt and ordered to pay $5 million? “he said.
Tsado urged the lawmakers to take a decisive decision despite claiming that the real issue is that the Senate abused its authority.
They imposed a suspension for more than 14 days as per their rule book. That is prohibited. Who punishes the Senate for overreaching their constitutional restrictions if Natasha is facing a court-imposed penalty for contempt?
“She said she would wait for the documents before resuming,” I heard her say yesterday. However, I want to urge the Nigerian Senate to “man up and leave this theater alone.” Nigerians do not want these things to happen, he claimed.
Senate’s Response to a Court Decision
On July 4, 2025, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja annulled Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension, calling it excessive and constitutional.
The judge criticized the Senate’s standing rules and the Legislative Houses’ Powers and Privileges Act as being overreaching and claimed that the punishment denied her constituents representation.
The Senate has since stated that it won’t take action until it receives the judgment’s Certified True Copy.
No party can impose any perceived order or relief, according to Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, adding that no one has been officially served the enrolled order of the judgment.
Our legal representatives, who were present at the hearing, have confirmed that the entire decision was not read in court. In response, we have formally requested the CTC to facilitate a thorough examination and informed choice of legal response.
The Senate shall refrain from acting on the advice of its attorneys and, in the event of receipt and examination of the CTC, refrain from acting in any way that might adversely affect its legal position. The Senate is still committed to upholding international law.
Suspension, and Allegations
Following a row over seat allocation during the plenary, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on March 6, 2025.
He disputed her accusations of sexual harassment and abuse of office, which she had brought against him.
The Senate disciplinary committee found her petition to be ineffective on procedural grounds, but she resubmitted it the following day. The Senate then suspended her for six months and barred her from plenary sessions.
That caused protests in some areas of the nation. Akpoti-Uduaghan filed the lawsuit with the court, and the international organization referred to the suspension as unlawful. In Abuja, she is currently facing defamation and cybercrime charges.
Justice Nyako argued, however, that while the Senate has the authority to impose sanctions, such measures must not violate the constitutional rights of the people to be represented.
Source: Channels TV
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