The recent letter from the Clerk to the National Assembly, addressed to Senator Natasha H. Akpoti-Uduaghan, has once again spotlighted the precarious nature of representation for the people of Kogi Central Senatorial District.
Suspended on March 6, 2025, Senator Natasha’s absence from the Senate has left her constituents effectively voiceless at the national level. Her attempt to resume on September 4, 2025 — which she argued marked the expiration of her six-month suspension — was stalled, as the Clerk reminded her that the matter remains before the Court of Appeal. Until the judiciary rules and the Senate makes a fresh pronouncement, her seat remains cold.
“When one senator is suspended, an entire district is silenced.”
This situation raises fundamental questions about governance. Should internal discipline within the Senate override the constitutional right of millions to be represented? While rules and sanctions are necessary for order, they must not inadvertently punish the electorate.
For the people of Kogi Central, the silence in Abuja is not just political — it is developmental. Federal budgets are being debated, motions are raised, and laws are passed without their direct input. Every day the suspension lingers, roads, schools, hospitals, and youth programs that need advocacy risk being sidelined.
“Democracy is not just about rules — it is about people.”
As this case sits in the courts, one thing remains certain: the people of Kogi Central deserve better. The Senate must balance discipline with representation, ensuring that disputes with individuals do not translate into the disenfranchisement of entire communities.
Until then, Kogi Central waits — caught between suspension and service.
– Prince Emani Salami writes from Kogi state.
