The Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday condemned the moves by the Senate to block Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming at the National Assembly following completion of her six-month suspension.

The acting clerk of the National Assembly, Yahaya Danzaria, in a letter addressed to the lawmaker, said no administrative action could be taken on her notification to resume legislative activities, as the matter was still sub judice due to a pending suit before the Court of Appeal.

In a statement by its national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP said the move smacks of a calculated attempt being orchestrated by the Godswill Akpabio-led Senate to abridge the right of representation of the people of Kogi Central Senatorial District and deny them a voice in the country’s highest law-making body.

“The extreme persecution of six months suspension unjustly imposed on Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, contrary to the rules of the Senate, is more than enough, and the PDP stands with the people of Kogi Central and all well-meaning Nigerians in condemning this unwarranted renewed attack on Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan,” the opposition noted.

According to the party, the action also comes as part of the antics being deployed by the APC-controlled Senate and the federal government to suffocate the opposition, which further confirms the creeping totalitarianism in the country under the ruling party.

The statement added, “The reported action by the clerk of the National Assembly against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan further brings to the fore the allegations of attacks on the right of women and sustained attempts to stifle their voices as witnessed in the various accusations of harassment against women levelled against the current Senate president, Senator Godswill Akpabio, over the years.”

PDP further demanded that Mr Akpabio come clean on the various allegations levelled against him, instead of seeking to use the National Assembly establishment to further harass, intimidate, and keep Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan away from the Senate.

“The attempt to use the National Assembly establishment against an elected senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in gross violation of the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and the Standing Rules of the Senate is highly provocative and constitutes a clear and present danger to democracy and overall stability of our country,” the party said.

The party also cautioned Mr Danzaria to withdraw the said letter, adhere to the rules by remaining neutral as a bureaucrat, and not allow himself to be used as a tool to undermine democracy and the rule of law.

It urged the international community and rights advocacy groups to condemn renewed attacks on Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan and charged the lawmaker to disregard the letter and prepare to resume in the upper chamber.

“While charging Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to discountenance the reported letter by the clerk of the National Assembly and get ready to resume at the Senate, the PDP demands that the Senate leadership ensure that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is allowed to resume her duties and perform her roles as an elected Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria unhindered,” the party said.