The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) women leader, Princess Grace Iye Adejoh, has called on the Senate to urgently reconsider the six-month suspension imposed on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central.
She described the suspension as a setback to democracy and gender inclusion in the country.
In a statement released over the weekend in Lokoja, Adejoh, a former governorship aspirant, warned that the ongoing feud between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan should not be allowed to bring the Nigerian Senate into disrepute.
“For days, my heart has been heavy with endless agitation; the unfolding developments in the Senate continue to trouble me like a recurring nightmare.
Once again, my beloved country is in the news for the wrong reasons—our hallowed legislative chamber caught in controversy. Even more distressing is that one of our finest political daughters, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, finds herself at the centre of this storm,” Adejoh stated.
She lamented that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension was not just a personal setback but a significant blow to democracy, gender representation, and national progress.
“As a woman, a fellow Kogite, and a member of the same political party, my heart bleeds. The remarkable progress we celebrated with her emergence in the Senate now seems to be crumbling overnight.
“This is not just a setback for her; it is a setback for our democracy, gender inclusion, and national development,” she added.
Adejoh stated that Kogi State has produced some of Nigeria’s finest leaders and that they should be treated with fairness and justice.
She warned that the feud between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio benefits no one, least of all the people of Kogi who now lack their senator’s representation for six months.
“The ongoing feud between our dear Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, and Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, benefits no one—not even those directly involved.
“It does not benefit the people of Kogi State who gave her their votes and now have to endure six months without her presence in the Senate to air their views.
“It does not benefit Nigeria. It does not benefit the Senate. The only real winners are bloggers and content creators thriving on controversy,” she noted.
She called on the Senate to rise above political conflicts and demonstrate leadership by reinstating Akpoti-Uduaghan without delay.
According to Adejoh, great leadership is not about exerting power but about accommodating differences and leading with wisdom and fairness.
“To the Senate, I implore: great leadership is not defined by power alone but by the ability to rise above conflicts, accommodate differences, and lead with wisdom and love.
“No truly successful leader has escaped criticism or opposition; what sets them apart is their capacity to absorb pressure and respond with grace,” she said.
Adejoh also urged Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to remain strong and for both parties to resolve their differences amicably. She stressed the importance of peace and collaboration in advancing national interests.
“I therefore plead with the Senate to reconsider its decision and reinstate our sister without delay. To the two ‘warring’ Senators, I urge restraint. Let us not tear each other apart or wash our dirty linen in public.
“Instead, let us embrace peace, put Nigeria first, and honour the bonds of leadership and friendship that we share,” she concluded.