•Natasha
The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) today described the alleged plan to arrest Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as a dangerous turn for democracy in Nigeria.
The coalition made this assertion in Abuja, in a statement issued by its national secretary, High Chief Peter Ameh, in Abuja.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan who has been suspended for six months by the red chamber over alleged misconduct, had last week reported Senate President Godswill Akpabio to the Inter-Parliamentary Union in New York, claiming that her ordeal followed her rebuffing the Senate President’s sexual advances, reports The Nation.
According to Ameh, the development, if allowed to materialise, would cast a dark shadow over Nigeria’s democratic landscape and, raise serious questions about the state of freedom of expression and movement in the country.
He called on Nigerians to resist any attempt to arrest the suspended Senator under any guise.
The statement reads: “In a startling revelation, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has raised an alarm, claiming that there are plans underway to arrest her.
“This disturbing assertion, if true, casts a dark shadow over Nigeria’s democratic landscape, raising serious questions about the state of freedom of expression and movement in the country.
“The senator’s outcry is not just a personal plea for justice; it is a clarion call to all Nigerians who cherish the principles of democracy to stand against what could be the beginning of a full-blown dictatorship.
“Senator Natasha’s fears stem from what she perceives as a targeted effort to silence her voice.
“Any attempt to arrest her, she warns, would serve as undeniable evidence that Nigeria’s democratic ideals are under severe threat.
“Freedom of expression and movement – cornerstones of any functioning democracy – would suffer a crushing blow if such an action were to materialize.
“The mere suggestion of an elected official being apprehended for speaking out is a chilling prospect, one that evokes memories of authoritarian regimes rather than a nation governed by the will of its people.
“Compounding this troubling situation is the conduct of the Nigerian Senate itself. According to what we have seen played out so far, the Senate, ab initio, has made a grave error in judgment by refusing to grant her a fair hearing.”
According to him, the alleged refusal by the Senate to grant her a fair hearing undermines the very institution meant to uphold justice and fairness. The Senate, as a body of elected representatives, is duty-bound to protect the rights of its members and, by extension, the citizens they serve.
He added: “By denying Senator Natasha the opportunity to defend herself or present her case, the Senate risks eroding its credibility and signaling a dangerous precedent: that dissent within its ranks will be met with suppression rather than dialogue.
“Nigeria’s democracy, though resilient, is not invincible. The arrest of a duly elected senator—chosen by the votes of the people—would strike at the heart of the democratic process.
“It would suggest that those in power are willing to trample on the electorate’s will to maintain control, a hallmark of dictatorship rather than a government accountable to its citizens.”
The former National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), said if such matters indeed lead to Senator Natasha’s arrest, the implications would be dire.
“Our democracy, already grappling with challenges of corruption, insecurity, and institutional decay, could be doomed to a fate where power is wielded not through consensus but through coercion.
“The situation demands urgent reflection and action.
Nigerians must ask themselves: what kind of nation do we aspire to be?
“One where elected officials live in fear of reprisal for speaking their minds, or one where the principles of justice, fairness, and freedom prevail? Senator Natasha’s cry is not hers alone; it is a warning to all who value the fragile democracy Nigeria has fought to sustain.
“If her arrest comes to pass, it will not just be an attack on one senator—it will be an assault on the very soul of the nation.
“The alleged plan to arrest Senator Natasha Akpabio must be met with fierce resistance from all quarters. The Senate must reverse its misstep and grant her a fair hearing, while the government must reaffirm its commitment to democratic ideals.
“Anything less risks plunging Nigeria into a crisis from which its democracy may not recover. The stakes are high, and the time to act is now —before the echoes of dictatorship drown out the voices of the people.”
