NLC Threatens Nationwide Mobilisation Over Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Suspension

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a stern warning to the leadership of the National Assembly, vowing to mobilise its members nationwide if Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central is not allowed to resume her legislative duties following her suspension.

In a strongly worded statement on Thursday, NLC President Joe Ajaero described the Senate’s continued refusal to reinstate the lawmaker as a “brazen assault on democracy.” He insisted that labour, as the defender of the people’s rights, would not watch silently while elected representatives are stripped of their mandates.

“We warn the leadership of the National Assembly and their enablers: the Nigerian people, united across ethnic and religious lines, will not stand idly by while you cannibalise our democracy,” Ajaero declared.
“The labour movement, as the historic defender of justice and the common good, will mobilise its immense membership and moral authority to resist this slide into autocracy. An attack on one senator today is an attack on the sovereignty of every Nigerian voter tomorrow.”

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Legal Threats and Looming Showdown

Earlier this week, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, through her lawyer Michael Numa (SAN), threatened legal action against the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamorudeen Ogunlana, if she is not allowed to resume by Monday. In a letter dated September 10, her counsel accused the clerk of exceeding his constitutional powers and warned of contempt proceedings should the refusal persist.

Despite a court ruling voiding her six-month suspension, reports from insiders suggest that the Senate leadership may still block her return when plenary resumes on September 23, 2025. Senate officials argue that the issue remains sub judice, a claim critics view as a legal smokescreen to sideline the Kogi Central senator.

The dispute has sparked intense debate within political and civil society circles, raising concerns about the balance of power between the legislature and the judiciary.

NLC Condemns “Assault on Democracy”

In his statement, Ajaero condemned what he described as the Senate’s “premeditated assault” on democratic governance. He accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his colleagues of plotting to silence dissenting voices and erode judicial independence.

“The Nigeria Labour Congress rises in vehement condemnation of the Godswill Akpabio-led Senate’s decision to continue barring Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from performing her sacred constitutional duties,” Ajaero stated.
“This act is not merely an error in judgment; it is a direct threat to the social contract, and a dangerous slide towards fascism masquerading as governance.”

The labour leader noted that even after the expiration of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, the Senate had refused to comply with court directives. He described this stance as “the height of impunity and morally reprehensible.”

Allegations of Power Abuse

Ajaero further criticised the Senate’s insistence on treating the matter as sub judice, calling it a “frivolous legal technicality.” He accused the upper chamber of weaponising procedure to disenfranchise an entire senatorial district.

“It is a cynical ploy that reveals a sinister agenda to silence dissent, crush opposition, and manipulate the judiciary as a tool of political persecution,” he said.
“This action, led by Senator Akpabio, constitutes a gross abuse of power that shames the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly and spits on the collective will of the people of Kogi Central who elected Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.”

The NLC president stressed that the Senate’s conduct undermines the essence of representation in a democracy, warning that it could embolden future acts of political repression.

Implications for Kogi Central and Nigeria

By denying Akpoti-Uduaghan access to the Senate floor, Ajaero argued, the leadership of the National Assembly has effectively disenfranchised the people of Kogi Central. He noted that this exclusion prevents the district from participating in lawmaking, oversight, and national resource allocation.

“By willfully disenfranchising an entire senatorial district, the Senate is effectively stealing the political representation for which the people pay taxes,” Ajaero said.
“This denies Kogi Central its right to participate in lawmaking, oversight, and the appropriation of national resources, directly impoverishing the constituents and perpetuating a system of exclusion and economic injustice.”

He added that such actions send a dangerous message to Nigerians—that votes can be nullified at the whim of political elites.

Labour’s Next Moves

The NLC has vowed to resist what it sees as an attempt to stifle political opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to Ajaero, the Senate’s stance is a “calculated test-run for the emasculation of opposition and the subjugation of sovereign will.”

“The Senate that operates as a court in its matter, suspends members, and then ignores the expiry of its own sanctions is a Senate that has declared war on representative democracy,” he warned.

While the NLC has not disclosed the specific form its resistance will take, past mobilisations by the Congress suggest that nationwide protests, strikes, or picketing of the National Assembly could be employed if the situation escalates.

As the September 23 resumption date approaches, political observers predict a heightened confrontation between the Senate, the judiciary, and organised labour. Civil society groups are already aligning with the NLC’s stance, insisting that the rule of law must prevail.

For Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, the coming days may determine not only her return to the red chamber but also her political future as a symbol of resistance against legislative overreach. For the Nigerian people, the case has become a litmus test for whether democratic institutions can withstand elite manipulation.

The unfolding saga pits the credibility of the Senate against the resilience of democratic norms. Whether through legal enforcement or mass mobilisation, the outcome will shape Nigeria’s political landscape in the critical years leading to the 2027 elections.