- Safiu Kehinde
YIAGA Africa’s Chief Executive Officer, Samson Itodo, has condemned the six months suspension of Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, by the Senate.
Itodo held that suspending Senators is unjust as it silenced their constituents all through the period of the suspension.
The YIAGA boss made this known in a post on his X handle on Friday.
NPO reported that the Senate, yesterday, slammed six months suspension on Natasha over violation of the Senate Standing Order with her outburst and clash with the Red Chamber’s President, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, last month.
The lawmakers had referred her to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Privileges.
Following deliberation on the incident after plenary on Wednesday, the Committee recommended Natasha’s suspension which also included withdrawal of her security details and stoppage of her salaries and other emoluments.
According to Itodo, the suspension of elected legislator raises serious constitutional, legal, and democratic concerns because it directly affects citizens’ right to representation.
While noting that legislative houses should have rules governing discipline and conduct, Itodo maintained that such rules must not override democratic principles or be used to suppress dissent.
“The suspension of an elected legislator by a legislative house raises serious constitutional, legal, and democratic concerns because it directly affects citizens’ right to representation.
“I don’t think internal legislative rules should supersede constitutional provisions that guarantee this fundamental right.
“If a legislator is elected to serve the will of the people, suspending them silences their constituents and it leaves them without representation for the duration of the suspension.
“Legislators should be accountable to the electorate, not just their colleagues in parliament. While legislative houses should have rules governing discipline and conduct, such rules must not override democratic principles or be used to suppress dissent.
“Frankly, denying constituents representation for six months is excessive and unjustifiable.
“It simply undermines the concept of representative democracy. It’s time to rethink these rules particularly how they are invoked and enforced.” The YIAGA boss wrote.