The suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Senate has intensified political tensions, with Kogi lawmakers divided. Senator Sunday Karimi defended her suspension, while Akpoti-Uduaghan called for mandatory drug tests for senators to prevent erratic decisions, sparking further debate on the integrity of Nigerian politics.
The political landscape in Kogi State has become increasingly volatile following the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The suspension, which stems from a heated dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has sparked a war of words between Akpoti-Uduaghan and fellow Kogi senator, Sunday Karimi. Karimi, representing Kogi West and a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), defended the disciplinary action, stating that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s actions had caused embarrassment to both the Senate and the state. He criticized her for disregarding advice from her peers, which he claims led to her downfall, and further accused her of tarnishing Kogi’s reputation on a national scale.
In response, Akpoti-Uduaghan vehemently rejected Karimi’s accusations, arguing that the suspension was politically motivated. She went on to suggest a controversial solution to prevent further discord in the Senate: mandatory drug tests for lawmakers. Akpoti-Uduaghan proposed that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) implement regular screenings for senators, believing this would help eliminate erratic decision-making and ensure the integrity of the legislative process.
Her call for drug tests references similar actions taken by other political entities, such as the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission’s drug testing of candidates. With political tensions already high, her remarks have added fuel to the fire, further polarizing the situation in Kogi State and potentially influencing national politics.
