Senator Dickson has backed Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return to the Senate after court ruling.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Senator Seriake Dickson, who represents Bayelsa West Senatorial District, has expressed his full support for the return of his colleague, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central, to the National Assembly following her controversial suspension earlier this year.
Recall that Senator Natasha was suspended on March 6 after a confrontation with Senate leadership regarding a new seating arrangement, which she alleged was deliberately orchestrated to undermine her position. The situation escalated after she appeared on national television and accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of punishing her for rejecting alleged sexual advances, a claim the Senate President has firmly denied.
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However, in a recent ruling on July 4, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Senate to reinstate Senator Natasha, declaring the suspension unlawful.
Speaking to journalists on the development, Senator Dickson clarified that he had always opposed long-term suspensions of lawmakers, stressing that such actions run contrary to democratic principles and the spirit of the Nigerian Constitution.
“I sympathize with Senator Natasha,” Dickson stated. “I have never supported any legislative move that sidelines elected members for extended periods. Our role in the Senate is to engage in debate, to agree and disagree in the national interest—within the boundaries of law and mutual respect.”
He emphasized that while he was absent when the suspension was announced, his position has remained consistent.
“My concern is that she resumes her duties as soon as possible to continue discharging her constitutional responsibilities. That’s what matters. I have been informed that the court has ruled in her favour, and that should be respected,” Dickson added.
The court’s directive and Senator Dickson’s remarks have rekindled discussions about the limits of legislative power and the importance of due process within Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
