PDP Should Back Akpoti-Uduaghan with Action, Not Just Words, Charges Abduljabbar Rufai
A leading member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abduljabbar Rufai, has called on the opposition party to move beyond verbal condemnations and take decisive action in defending Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the embattled lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District. Rufai made the appeal while reacting to the controversy surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan’s continuous exclusion from Senate activities despite a subsisting court order in her favour. According to him, the PDP risks losing credibility if it fails to rally both politically and legally behind its senator, who has been barred from accessing the National Assembly chambers. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension earlier this year followed her public accusation of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The matter, which sparked national debate, eventually led to her removal from plenary sittings. However, a Federal High Court recently ruled in her favour, paving the way for her return. Despite the ruling, she was reportedly blocked by Senate security operatives from resuming her legislative duties. This incident has fueled further outrage from opposition figures, women’s advocacy groups, and civil society organizations, who see the development as an attack on democratic representation and gender equity. The PDP has issued several statements condemning the Senate’s action, describing it as an unconstitutional move that robs the people of Kogi Central of their right to representation. Yet Rufai insists that press statements alone are insufficient. He urged the party to strengthen its defense of Akpoti-Uduaghan by deploying practical strategies such as mobilizing its caucus in the National Assembly to demand her reinstatement, pursuing urgent legal enforcement of the court ruling, and intensifying public campaigns to expose what he described as the “erosion of democratic principles.” “This is not just about one senator; it is about the sanctity of the people’s mandate and the protection of our democracy. The PDP must show that it will not allow any attempt to silence its members or disenfranchise Nigerians,” Rufai said. Political observers warn that the ongoing standoff could set a dangerous precedent if left unchecked. They argue that disregarding a valid court order undermines the rule of law and strengthens the perception that legislative leadership can manipulate processes to silence dissenting voices. Human rights activists have also cautioned that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s ordeal reflects systemic gender bias and could discourage female participation in politics. Women’s rights groups, meanwhile, have vowed to continue pushing for her reinstatement, framing her case as symbolic of the broader struggle for fairness and inclusion in governance. While the Senate leadership and members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) defend the actions taken against the senator as procedural, the controversy is far from over. Pressure is mounting on the PDP to escalate its response beyond rhetoric. For Rufai, the party must not hesitate to confront what he described as “a calculated attempt to strip Kogi Central of its voice in the Senate.” He warned that failure to act decisively would not only weaken the PDP’s standing but also embolden future attempts to stifle democratic representation in Nigeria.
