The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio to immediately rescind the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. SERAP described the suspension as “patently unlawful” and stated that it is based solely on the peaceful exercise of her constitutionally and internationally recognized right to freedom of expression.

In an open letter dated March 8, 2025, SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare said, “No one should ever be punished for ‘speaking without permission’. Being a senator does not deprive Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan of her fundamental human rights.”

Oluwadare emphasized that the Senate should be setting an example by upholding the rule of law and promoting and protecting fundamental human rights, not stamping them out. “Punishing Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan solely for peacefully expressing herself is unlawful, unnecessary, and disproportionate,” he added.

The letter also stated that the suspension would have a disproportionate chilling effect on the ability of other members of the Senate to freely express themselves and exercise their human rights. SERAP gave the Senate a 48-hour ultimatum to reinstate Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and revise parliamentary procedures that unduly restrict senators’ human rights.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months after she reportedly ‘spoke without permission’ and ‘refused her new seat in the upper legislative chamber.’ Her salary and allowances will not be paid for the duration of the suspension, and she was banned from representing herself as a senator.