Group writes Tinubu to intervene in exclusion of Kogi Central from Senate
Group under the aegis of Dynamic Ebira Friends Club in Nigeria has written to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to intervene over what it describes as unconstitutional exclusion of the people of Kogi Central senatorial district from representation at the Nigeria Senate due to the suspension of the lawmaker representing the district, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In an open letter to President Tinubu, the group gives seven days pre-action notice, demanding for the rescission of the action of the Senate.
The group noted that the suspension of the lawmaker representing the district for a period of six months is an
unlawful exclusion of the people of Kogi Central Senatorial District from participating in the legislative affairs of the Nigerian Senate.
The letter reads:
“Dynamic Ebira Friends Club in Nigeria is a non-political and non-religious organization of highly distinguished Anebira who have severally intervened in and bored the social, economic and environmental challenges of the people of Kogi Central Senatorial District.
“It is important to place on record that the people of Kogi Central Senatorial District firmly believe in your Excellency’s distinguished leadership and this was evidently demonstrated in our overwhelming support and vote for your Excellency at the 2023 presidential election. It is on record that Kogi Central Senatorial District delivered the highest votes from Kogi State during the said election.
“Given the support of the people of Kogi Central, it is imperative that such a district ought to partake in all the people-oriented programs and policies of your Excellency administration. This underscores’ the need for the district to be dully represented, particularly at the Nigerian Senate. This position is without prejudice to the constitutional provision’s creating 109 senatorial districts across the country and requiring the representation of each district during the 4 years tenure of the Senate without contemplating and or empowering the Senate to suspend any of the district, even for a day.
“Your Excellency would recall that on 6th March, 2025, the Nigeria Senate in the most brazen, callous, uncivilized and open display of bias, malice and ill-will purportedly proclaim the unlawful exclusion of the people of Kogi Central Senatorial District from participating in the legislative affairs of the Nigerian Senate for a period of Six (6) months through the suspension of her dully elected Senator, Distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
“The suspension follows the attempt of the Senate on 26th February, 2025 to reallocate the seat of Distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, an action the Senator considered to infringe on her privileges. While we may not wish to dwell on the propriety or otherwise of the Senate Rules which encourage an elected representative to be tossed around the Chambers of the Senate (in the guise of seat reallocation) like a mere employee or agent without the courtesies of due notifications and the reasons thereof, we wish to place on record that the internal squabbles of the Senate cannot and can never snowball into punishing an entire Senatorial District.
“We are of the strong opinion that the National Assembly have come of age to device appropriate means of dealing with its internal affairs as this. Similarly, it baffles us that while a mere issue of allocation of seats can lead to the purported Six (6) months suspension of an entire District, a weighty allegation of “sexual harassment” being levied against the Senate President, Sen. Godswill Obot Akpabio by Distinguished Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan which is of monumental embarrassment to the Nation is rather been treated with kids glove.
“As a people, we are of the opinion that if the Nigerian Senate has suddenly lost focus and is unable to prioritize issues of importance, the duty rest squarely on your Excellency to take steps to redirect their affairs to ensure that Nigeria is not made a laughing stock in the Committee of nations and that they are able to provide the necessary framework for the actualization of your Excellency’s lofty programs and policies.
“Importantly, looking at the activities of the Senate Committee on Ethics as presently constituted, we are of the firm believe that same have been compromised and as such, the Kogi Central Senator cannot get fair hearing and justice from it. Our fear is reinforced by the kangaroo hearing of the said committee which led to the suspension of Distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
“We are therefore, as a people, resolute that while the Constitution has not envisaged the exclusion of any of the 109 senatorial district constituting Nigeria from participating in the legislative affairs of the country nor donate such powers to the Senate, any effort to so disqualify and or exclude Kogi Central Senatorial District from fully participating in the legislative affairs of Nigeria Senate shall be strongly resisted through all lawful means, possible.
“We therefore make the following demand;
The immediate rescission of the Six (6) months suspension and immediate recall of Distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to ensure that the people of Kogi Central Senatorial District is duly and constitutionally represented at the Nigeria Senate.
“The immediate stepping down of the Senate President, Distinguished Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio to allow for fair and independent investigations of the Senate Ethics Committee into the allegations of sexual harassment levied against him by Distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
“The disbandment and reconstitution of the Senate Committee on Ethics to allay the fears of bias in the handling of the petition on sexual harassment.
“Your Excellency, while we assure you of the allegiance of the people of Kogi Central, we urge that you take immediate measures to address our grievances and demands to avoid litigation which may negatively impact on the smooth running of the affairs of the Nigeria Senate, particularly, given the notable bills being considered and other legislative activities which are time bound.
Please, accept my esteem and high regards, your Excellency.
“Hon. Abubakar Suleiman,
For & on behalf of, DYNAMIC EBIRA FRIENDS CLUB IN NIGERIA”, the leader reads.
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