According to a report by Vanguard on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of being vindictive and intolerant towards opposition voices in the country.
Effiong, who spoke on a television programme, stated that Akpabio does not easily forgive and often goes to any length to suppress those who disagree with him.
He linked the Senate’s treatment of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to what he described as Akpabio’s pattern of intolerance.
Effiong expressed concern over the decision of the Senate to stop Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming her duties despite calls for her reinstatement.
He argued that the refusal was not just a matter of procedure but a deliberate move to silence a dissenting voice within the legislature.
According to him, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension was politically motivated and unfair to her constituents in Kogi Central.
The suspended lawmaker had been handed a six-month suspension in March 2025 following allegations of insubordination.
The Senate claimed that she refused to comply with an instruction to change her designated seat during plenary, since then, efforts by the senator to return to legislative work have been unsuccessful, with the leadership maintaining that her case must first be resolved by the Court of Appeal.
Effiong faulted this position, noting that the prolonged suspension has left the people of Kogi Central without representation in the National Assembly.
He maintained that no constituency should suffer because of political disagreements between lawmakers.
He added that such actions undermine democratic values and the principle of fair representation.
The lawyer, who is from Akwa Ibom State where Akpabio once served as governor, reminded Nigerians that the Senate President’s style of leadership has long been associated with intolerance.
He stressed that Akpabio’s actions over the years show a consistent tendency to clamp down on those who oppose him. Effiong insisted that the ongoing issue in the Senate is another reflection of that attitude.
The Senate, however, has stood firm on its stance, declaring that Akpoti-Uduaghan remains suspended until the court delivers judgment.
Officials of the National Assembly have emphasized that no administrative steps would be taken to reverse her suspension until the legal process is concluded.
This has prolonged the stalemate, leaving her supporters frustrated over the lack of representation.
Effiong reiterated that Nigeria’s democracy is weakened when political leaders fail to tolerate dissent.
He emphasized that institutions such as the National Assembly must not be used as instruments to victimize individuals.
He called for fairness and the protection of rights, stressing that political disagreements should not lead to the denial of representation for citizens.
He said: “Akpabio is from my state, don’t forget he was governor of my state for eight years. That is why some of us keep reminding Nigerians that we know the antecedent of this man. It’s true he doesn’t forgive.
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