Comedian, human rights activist, and public affairs analyst, Randy Peter, has strongly condemned the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by the Nigerian Senate, describing it as an outright injustice and a dangerous abuse of legislative power.
Speaking exclusively on Symfoni TV, the convener of the Fix INEC movement said his decision to take up the senator’s case was driven by his long-standing commitment to fighting injustice, irrespective of who is involved. He maintained that injustice cannot become justice simply because it affects someone people disagree with.
According to him, “Senator Natasha is one of just four women in the Senate. And then the Senate came up with an allegation that she disobeyed standing rules and imposed a maximum sentence of suspension for six months. Her security was withdrawn, and her salaries and allowances were stopped. We said no—this cannot be the way to go. If the National Assembly wants to be a body of lawmakers, it should uphold the laws that guide its own conduct.”
Randy Peter criticized the Senate’s selective application of discipline, recalling previous instances where lawmakers accused of serious misconduct were treated more leniently. “We’ve had cases where a senator led to steal the mace—the symbol of authority—and was later seen at the city gate. The Supreme Court ruled that no senator can be suspended for more than 14 days. That same senator was later elected deputy senate president. Another current senator, a former governor, was convicted of money laundering involving billions and served time before appealing to the Supreme Court. What did the Senate’s standing orders say about that?” he queried.
He expressed disappointment that rather than addressing corruption and abuse of office, the Senate appeared more interested in punishing a woman who insists on her rights. “It is unfortunate that the Senate cannot deal with known criminals among them but is quick to clamp down on a woman demanding due process,” he said.
Randy Peter warned that such actions portray the National Assembly as an extension of the executive arm and undermine democratic principles. “The National Assembly today has almost become an extension of the executive—it’s like an APC town hall. When the president submits a budget, they greet him with a political mantra. That place is supposed to be the people’s assembly,” he lamented.
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He added that democracy thrives only when citizens participate and hold leaders accountable. “We will continue to have illegality and injustice for as long as the people permit it. Once the people begin to mobilize and insist that the right thing should be done, the power of the people will always be greater than the criminals in power,” he declared.
While calling on Nigerians to resist the Senate’s decision, he emphasized that the case of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan represents a broader struggle for justice and equality in Nigeria’s democracy. “If the Senate wants to be remembered as one that worked for the welfare of Nigerians and upheld justice, this is the time to prove it. Nigerians will not allow this injustice to stand,” he concluded.
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