Abuja, Nigeria – March 20, 2025 – Civil rights lawyer and public affairs analyst Barr Carl Umegboro has sharply criticized Nigeria’s National Assembly for its persistent practice of suspending elected representatives, calling it a reckless and unconstitutional trend that undermines the nation’s democracy. In a strongly worded letter dated March 20, 2025, addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, Umegboro singled out the recent six-month suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as a glaring example of legislative overreach.
The suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan, a senator representing Kogi State, has sparked widespread debate, with Umegboro arguing that such actions violate the democratic rights of constituents and threaten the integrity of Nigeria’s parliamentary system. The legal practitioner described the move as “obnoxious, vexatious, and ultra vires,” asserting that it effectively silences entire constituencies rather than just the individual lawmakers targeted.
The Case of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
The controversy erupted earlier this month when the Senate, following a recommendation from its Ethics Committee, suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months. The decision stemmed from her alleged violation of Senate Standing Rules, including a public dispute over her reassigned seat and a petition accusing Senate President Akpabio of misconduct. Despite her attempts to address the chamber, she was denied a chance to speak, and the suspension was swiftly enacted, barring her from legislative duties and access to the National Assembly complex.
Umegboro condemned the suspension as “the height of rascality, inanity, and mischief,” arguing that Akpoti-Uduaghan, as an elected representative, embodies the voice of her Kogi State constituency. “To lock out or suspend her implies the exclusion of the entire constituency being represented in the scheme of things in the parliament,” he wrote. “This is not only horrible but an assault on democracy.”
A Broader Critique of Legislative Practices
In his letter, Umegboro highlighted the recurring nature of such suspensions, noting that they have become a troubling pattern in Nigeria’s legislative houses despite judicial rulings against them. He referenced past court decisions that have deemed the suspension of elected lawmakers illegal, including cases involving Dino Melaye in 2010 and Ovie Omo-Agege in 2018, yet lamented that these judgments appear to have been ignored by lawmakers.
“Courts have ruled against the suspension of elected representatives in the country, but seemingly, the decisions didn’t sink deep into politicians’ ears,” Umegboro stated. He argued that only a constituency has the authority to sanction or recall its representative, not fellow lawmakers who represent separate districts. “Power belongs to the people; the whole idea of sovereignty,” he emphasized.
Umegboro suggested that while brief suspensions—lasting no more than a week—might be permissible as a disciplinary measure for decorum, extended bans like Akpoti-Uduaghan’s are unjustifiable. “Depriving a constituency recognized in the Constitution her right to participate in the government of the country is inexplicable,” he wrote.
Implications for Nigerian Democracy
The lawyer’s critique extended beyond the immediate case, questioning the effectiveness of institutions like the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), which is tasked with training lawmakers to uphold democratic principles. “The recurring nonchalant attitudes and arrogances every so often displayed in this regard compel one to wonder about the goal of NILDS,” he remarked.
Umegboro warned that if left unchecked, this practice poses “serious threats” to Nigeria’s democracy. He urged the Senate President, Speaker, and SGF to address the issue urgently, calling for a reevaluation of legislative norms to protect the rights of constituencies and strengthen democratic governance.
Public and Legal Backlash
The suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan has already drawn significant criticism. Legal experts and civil society voices have echoed Umegboro’s sentiments, with some suggesting the senator has grounds to challenge her suspension in court. Prominent lawyer Femi Falana has previously argued that such actions contravene the Constitution, a stance reinforced by judicial precedents over the past 15 years, all of which have reinstated suspended lawmakers.
Public sentiment, as reflected in posts on X, has been equally vocal. Users have decried the Senate’s handling of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s case, with one describing it as “a dangerous development that won’t end well” and another questioning the Ethics Committee’s impartiality in suspending her rather than investigating her allegations.
A Call for Reform
Barr Umegboro concluded his letter with an impassioned plea for reform. “It is my earnest craving and appeal that you dutifully reflect on this quagmire and accord it the needed attention through your good offices in the interest of our democracy,” he wrote. He stressed that every constituency in Nigeria has an “unrestricted right of representation” in the National Assembly, a principle he believes is being eroded by the current trend.
As the fallout from Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension continues, Umegboro’s intervention adds a significant voice to the growing chorus demanding accountability and adherence to democratic norms in Nigeria’s legislature. Whether his appeal will prompt action from the nation’s top officials remains to be seen, but it has undeniably reignited a critical conversation about representation, power, and justice in Nigeria’s democratic experiment.
