The founder of Anap Foundation, Atedo Peterside, has criticised the suspension of Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by the Senate, describing it as an act of disrespect to her constituents.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, the founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc condemned the decision, calling it troubling.

“The most disturbing aspect of the Nigerian Senate’s handling of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s case is that the Senate leadership is fully aware that her six-month suspension is ultra vires and a direct affront to her constituents in Kogi State, yet they simply do not care,” Peterside stated. He also pledged his support for the embattled senator.

The long-standing dispute between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan escalated on Thursday, 6 March 2025, when the Senate suspended the Kogi Central lawmaker. The suspension followed her allegations of sexual harassment and abuse of office against Akpabio after a seat allocation dispute on 20 February 2025.

Akpabio has denied the allegations, while Akpoti-Uduaghan has responded by filing a defamation lawsuit against him, seeking N100 billion in damages. Meanwhile, the Senate, under Akpabio’s leadership, has referred her to its disciplinary committee.

The senator subsequently approached a Federal High Court in Abuja, securing an order restraining the Senate committee from proceeding with disciplinary hearings against her. The case has been adjourned to 10 March 2025.

On Wednesday, 5 March 2025, the Senate committee dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition against Akpabio, describing it as “dead on arrival” due to procedural violations and legal constraints. However, she re-submitted the petition the following day.

This latest conflict is not the first between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan. In July 2024, the Senate President apologised to the senator over a controversial remark he made about her at a nightclub.