Kogi Central Political Frontiers has faulted Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s failure to address her constituents since her suspension from the national assembly.
The group said the senator’s disconnect with the people of Kogi Central shows she has abandoned the people to their fate.
Speaking at a press conference in Lokoja on Thursday, spokesman of the group, Jafar Aliu Kamaludeen, expressed their desire to continue with the process to recall Natasha from the senate.
The group said recalling Senator Natasha “will allow the people of Kogi central to elect a responsible, law-abiding team player to represent us at the senate.
“For the record, after her suspension, there has been no formal communication between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and the people of Kogi central, not even a town hall meeting as was the routine when she was seeking the support and votes of constituents.
“Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has clearly failed to prioritize or consider the collective interest of the people of Kogi central whose voices by this singular misstep will be silenced for the next six legislative months which is equivalent to twelve calendar months.
“Her appearance at the United Nations interparliamentary Union meeting to escalate the matter with a twisted narrative of sexual harassment as reason for her suspension as well as the filing of a contempt suit against the senate president and others over her suspension is indicative of a personal resolve by the senator to abandon the people of Kogi central to their own fate.”
The group backed the decision to suspend Senator Natasha.
“A recent review of events that led to the suspension of the senator representing Kogi central senatorial district, Mrs. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for gross misconduct and unruly behavior has not only cast a shadow on the people of the district but also spurred us to question if truly the interest of the people of Kogi central is duly protected in this matter.
“The National Assembly is an esteemed arm of government that gives voice to the totality of Nigerians through meaningful representation of constituents whose primary interest is promoted, protected and preserved through an elected representative.
“It is an institution with standing rules as an integral part of keeping the order so therefore, the decision of the senate to suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months in line with the recommendation of the committee on ethics, privileges and public petition for flouting the rules is in order for the preservation of institutional integrity.
“We however regret to note that despite the window given to our senator to reverse this decision through the second prayer that for the senate to consider lifting or reducing the tenure of this suspension senator shall submit a written apology before reconsideration by the senate, she is yet to consider this opportunity,” the group added.
The group said a simple apology would have sufficed while Senator Natasha pursues fair hearing on the sexual harassment petition before the ethics and privileges committee or better still go to court to file a suit on sexual harassment with the conviction that she has concrete evidence to get justice on the matter.
