Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has revealed that fear of political persecution stopped many of her colleagues in the National Assembly from publicly supporting her during her suspension from the Senate.
Speaking on Sunday in Okene, Kogi State, during the inauguration of a new market, Akpoti-Uduaghan described her suspension as both “illegal and politically motivated,” saying it exposed how intimidation and fear still dominate the country’s political institutions.
“When a government official faces challenges, isolation comes naturally,” she said. “Even when people are sympathetic, they are afraid to associate with you openly for fear of being castigated or persecuted.”
The lawmaker explained that while several senators reached out to her privately to express solidarity, many avoided public association with her to protect themselves from possible political backlash.
“Many senators stood by me quietly — they called, they visited — but in public, they couldn’t show it. I’m not offended by that,” she added.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s comments come amid ongoing debates about political freedom, institutional integrity, and the growing influence of fear in Nigeria’s governance system.
