The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned what it described as a desperate attempt to bar Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming at the Senate after serving a six-month suspension imposed by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

In a statement on Tuesday, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, faulted the reported action of the Clerk of the National Assembly, which, according to the opposition party, smacks of a calculated move by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Senate leadership to silence Akpoti-Uduaghan and deny the people of Kogi Central their right to representation.

The party described the move as “highly provocative,” stressing that it not only violates the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Standing Rules of the Senate, but also poses a grave danger to democratic governance and national stability.

According to the PDP, the action fits into a broader pattern of “antics” allegedly being deployed by the APC-controlled Senate and Federal Government to weaken the opposition and muzzle dissent, thereby deepening what it termed “the creeping totalitarianism in the country.”

The statement also linked the development to “sustained attempts to stifle the voices of women in politics,” noting past allegations of harassment against women levelled at the Senate President.

The PDP urged Akpabio to “come clean” on the issues rather than allegedly using the National Assembly bureaucracy to intimidate female lawmakers.

“The extreme persecution of a six-month suspension unjustly imposed on Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, contrary to Senate rules, is more than enough,” the statement said.

“This renewed attempt to keep her away from the chamber is unwarranted and unacceptable.” The PDP noted.

The party, therefore, cautioned the Clerk of the National Assembly against being “politically entangled” or allowing himself to be used as a tool to undermine democracy, urging him to immediately withdraw any such letter barring the senator from resuming.

While calling on the international community, democracy institutions, and rights advocacy groups to condemn the development, the PDP also charged Akpoti-Uduaghan to disregard the Clerk’s letter and prepare to resume her legislative duties without hindrance.

“The Senate leadership must ensure that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is allowed to take her seat and perform her constitutional role as an elected lawmaker of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the PDP insisted.