A federal high court in Abuja has ordered the Senate to recall the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

In March, Natasha was suspended by the Senate for six months for alleged gross misconduct, days after a face-off with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over a change of sitting arrangement in the chambers during plenary.

She consequently accused Akpabio of making sexual advances at her and later petitioned the United Nations over the issue.

In a ruling on Friday, Justice Binta Nyako described as “excessive”, the six-month suspension that was slammed on the lawmaker by the Senate.

The court faulted the provision of Chapter 8 of the Senate Standing Rules as well as section 14 of the Legislative Houses, Powers & Privileges Act, declaring both as overreaching.

The court stressed that the two legislations failed to specify the maximum period that a serving lawmaker could be suspended from office.

According to the court, since lawmakers have a total of 181 days to sit in every legislative circle, suspending a lawmaker for roughly that same length of time effectively silences the voice of an entire constituency.

“While the Senate has the authority to discipline its members, such sanctions must not go so far as to deny constituents their right to representation,” Nyako ruled.

Former Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Gregory Obi, has been issued a 48-hour ultimatum to formally resign his membership of the Party, having formally joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition party.

Labour Party while reiterating its disinterestedness in joining the coalition said that the members of the coalition are power mongers whose only interest was self and not the people.

The party warned Nigerians that the often mouthed ‘new Nigeria is Possible’ is a ruse and cannot be achieved with the assemblage of old, recycled, desperate and frustrated politicians in the coalition.

In a statement, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, says that all those who mismanaged Nigeria over the years are the ones who gathered themselves in the coalition, while noting that desperate politicians can’t birth a new Nigeria.

We are aware of several nocturnal meetings between Peter Obi and some of our members, lobbying them to join him in his new party. We’re also aware that a number of them have refused to defect with him.

The Labour Party has consistently said it is not part of the coalition. Therefore, any of our members who are part of the coalition are given 48 hours to formally resign their membership of the party.

Labour Party is not available for people with dual agenda, people with deceptive persona.

The party will not avail itself to individuals who have one leg in one Party and another leg elsewhere. People who in the morning they will claim to be in the Labour Party and in the evening are in coalition.

Nearly 70 percent of Nigerian population are youths who are tired of the old order, tired of gerontocrats deciding their fate. The new Nigeria that the youths are dreaming of, is not what can be realized from what we are seeing in the coalition.

These people are opportunistic politicians who are only interested in relaunching themselves into circle of power, people who are desperate to continue holding on to power.

The new Nigeria of our dream can only be realized through Labour Party and the party is willing to lead Nigerians along that trajectory.

I therefore urge all members of the party to remain loyal and keep the party structure intact ahead of future elections.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Senate President David Mark and other coalition leaders have officially adopted the African Democratic Congress as the platform to spearhead President Bola Tinubu’s defeat in the 2027 election.

During the unveiling, held on Wednesday, Mark and ex-Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola were announced as the interim National Chairman and Secretary of the ADC, respectively.

Meanwhile, ADC’s 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu and other members of the party’s old bloc criticised Atiku, Obi, and others, accusing them of hijacking the party and claiming they lacked the capacity to lead.

In a separate response, the PDP Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, maintained that the party remains united and warned that there will be consequences for members undermining the PDP in the name of a coalition.

On its part, the All Progressives Congress dismissed the opposition leaders as retired politicians who have refused to step aside, asserting that the ruling party would easily defeat them in the 2027 elections.

Against the backdrop of the hardships and lamentations caused by Tinubu’s economic reforms, the opposition parties are seeking to build a coalition that would defeat the President in the next presidential poll.

In a bid to present a strong challenge ahead of the 2027 elections, prominent opposition figures unveiled a new political coalition in Abuja on March 20.

The development sparked nationwide discussions on the potential and effectiveness of a united opposition.

On May 19, the ADC was selected as the coalition’s official political base.

In his acceptance speech, the newly interim National Chairman of the ADC, Mark, acknowledged that the efforts by the 2027 coalition to unseat Tinubu will be challenging.

He said, “Let it be known to all that this coalition of national political opposition groups goes beyond gaining political power. It is a concerted effort to rebuild the crumbling pillars of Nigeria’s democracy.

“Today marks the beginning of what we believe will be a long, difficult and tedious journey.

However, it is a journey that we are prepared to undertake, united in our collective belief that no price or sacrifice is too high in the service of our fatherland,’’ he said.

The ADC interim chairman stated that within two years in office, the current administration has taken control of key democratic institutions and is gradually steering the country toward a full-blown civilian dictatorship.

He stated, “The blatant destabilisation and infiltration of all major opposition political parties is aimed at achieving only one objective, to enhance total state capture and leave Nigerians with no alternative or options in 2027.

This coalition is to prevent our country’s descent into a one-party state.

“We have never seen a government so much at home with corruption, a government that disdains accountability in all ramifications.

A government more concerned with the next election rather than the survival of the ordinary Nigerians.

“A government so totally consumed with politicking that governance is abandoned, while the majority of our people wallow in hunger and poverty.

“We have never seen this level of insecurity across the length and breadth of our nation. Bandits and kidnappers kill Nigerians at will and on a daily basis.

Yet, this ongoing tragedy has not moved the government to any action that would stop these mindless killings and stem the tide of needless bloodshed.

”Mark stated that Nigerians deserved a government that ensures their safety and makes them feel secure in their own homes.

He continued, “Equally disturbing is the total emasculation of the legislative institution.

Never in our history have we witnessed a National Assembly where legislators, the trustees of the very bastion of our democracy, saddled with the sacred duty to protect Nigerians from misuse of executive power, are reduced to cheerleaders and praise singers of the President, head of the executive arm.

“Without doubt, the transformation of Nigeria’s National Assembly to a mere appendage of presidential authority is a dangerous conspiracy against the Nigerian people.

“It is the reason why the government can get away with various whimsical, unconstitutional policies and actions or inactions that have reduced more Nigerians to abject poverty and widened the boundaries of insecurity and fear.”

The ADC interim chairman accused the APC-led government of undermining the sacrifices of Nigeria’s founding heroes and affirmed that the coalition party belongs to all Nigerians.

He stated, “This coalition is determined to offer Nigerians a path to security, prosperity, peace and progress.

Coming from various party affiliations, we are united in our resolve to present a constructive alternative to the hardship, insecurity and waste that has become the hallmark of the current APC government.

“As we proceed this day, we acknowledge the practical implications of imminent bye-elections and one state governorship election for some of our coalition partners in their respective legacy political parties.

However, all of us remain firmly united under the ADC banner for the 2027 general elections and beyond.

”Earlier in his remarks, the founding National Chairman of the ADC, Ralph Nwosu, said the party leaders voluntarily resigned to allow Mark and Aregbesola to take charge and lead efforts to reposition both the party and the country.

Nwosu stated, “We all decided to resign so that Mark, Aregbesola and others can lead us to the (Presidential) Villa. We also approved Mark as National Chairman and Aregbesola as the National Secretary of the party.

When you look at the two of them and their commitment to this country, you’ll see that this is a new beginning. They will reposition the party and Nigeria.

”Nwosu said the opposition coalition is not about seeking power, but moving Nigeria to “global reckoning.”

“ADC has always been about the rejuvenation of Nigeria and Africa. This journey started about 18 months ago, and we have had over 12 NEC meetings.

“When we were consulted, we said we have also been consulting because we are a party that believes in coalition.

A day like this shows that we are ready to sacrifice anything for Nigeria. We don’t have any doubt in the man; we all have decided to resign.”

Speaking after the unveiling of the ADC interim leadership, former transport minister Rotimi Amaechi said inflation is at its peak and many Nigerians can no longer afford food.

He revealed he resigned from the APC on Tuesday night and expressed surprise he wasn’t expelled earlier, having warned the party not to invite him to meetings.

The former Rivers State governor stated, “No, it’s not about changing the government, if it is about changing the government, there is no need to change the government, it’s about changing Nigeria.

“Nigeria is destroyed. People can’t eat. People can’t buy food. There’s no money to buy food. Everything is gone. Inflation is at its peak. And the federal government is busy going around trying to hijack the election.

INEC is helping them to hijack the election.

“No, no, no. What must happen here is that we must start not just a party, but a movement, it must be a movement that brings in Nigerians to, on their own, take over government, not us.

”Those present at the unveiling include the 2023 presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar; the Labour Party, Peter Obi; and Aregbesola.

Other key figures include a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Victor Umeh; former PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus; Labour Party’s 2023 Vice Presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed; former APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun; and former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar.

Also in attendance were former Governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Abdulfattah Ahmed (Kwara), Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto), Oserheimen Osunbor (Edo), Celestine Omehia (Rivers), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Window Jibrilla (Adamawa), Emeka Ihedioha (Imo), Capt. Idris Wada (Kogi), former deputy governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi; former Ekiti Deputy Governor Kolapo Olushola and Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Simon Achuba.

Others are a former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, Senator Dino Melaye, former Youth Minister Solomon Dalung, media mogul Chief Dele Momodu, Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe, Suleiman Nazif, Lee Maeba, Alhaji Kashim Imam, former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, Senator Ishaku Abbo; former National Vice Chairman, Northwest, of the APC, Salihu Lukman; the Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, Ireti Kingibe; and an activist, Aisha Yesufu.