The Nigerian Senate has come under fire from Sam Amadi, the director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, for rejecting Representative Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central’s request to rejoin the Senate.
In an appearance on Arise Television on Wednesday, Amadi reportedly called the Senate’s action a misuse of senatorial privileges in response to queries.
Since he is not a member of parliament, he claims that the National Assembly Clerk is unable to approve a member’s ongoing suspension.
Members of the National Assembly, he bemoaned, create regulations yet disregard them.
It’s an instance of overreach, he added. an infringement on the senators’ own privileges.
“A member of the National Assembly may be suspended, but only within the parameters of that House’s proceedings.
The idea that the parliamentary procedure must wait for a court decision is completely incorrect. Self-control and immunity were granted to the parliament. Actually, parliamentary processes continue unabated by court interventions.
Obiageli Ezekwesili, the former minister of education, has implored the Nigerian Senate to permit troubled Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to return to her position.
Ezekwesili told the Nigerian Senate, the judiciary, and the public in a forceful statement that the suspension threatens the rule of law and constitutional governance.
According to her, letting the lawmaker’s suspension continue runs the risk of undermining public trust in democratic institutions.
In order to ensure that the senators’ mandate is promptly restored, Ezekwesili cautioned the Senate to adhere to constitutional provisions.
