The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has sounded the alarm over an alleged plot to arrest Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, warning that such a move would mark a dangerous escalation in Nigeria’s democratic backsliding.
In a strongly worded statement signed by its National Secretary, High Chief Peter Amen, the coalition described the reported attempt to silence the senator as an assault on democracy that must be fiercely resisted.
The controversy surrounding Senator Natasha’s alleged impending arrest comes amid a larger storm within the Nigerian political space. She recently found herself at odds with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who has been embroiled in a sexual harassment scandal.
Natasha accused Akpabio of sexually harassing her. Although Akpabio has denied the allegations, the matter has further deepened suspicions of political manoeuvring against his critics. Senator Natasha was eventually suspended for six months by the legislature for alleged violations of house rules.
The lawmaker from Kogi State has also raised concerns that her arrest is being orchestrated as retaliation for speaking out to demand a proper investigation into her claims against the Senate President.
The CUPP sees this as a blatant attempt to muzzle dissenting voices and entrench autocratic control.
The coalition’s statement reads: “In a startling revelation, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has raised an alarm, claiming that there are plans underway to arrest her.
This disturbing assertion, if true, casts a dark shadow over Nigeria’s democratic landscape, raising serious questions about the state of freedom of expression and movement in the country.
“The senator’s outcry is not just a personal plea for justice; it is a clarion call to all Nigerians who cherish the principles of democracy to stand against what could be the beginning of a full-blown dictatorship.
“Senator Natasha’s fears stem from what she perceives as a targeted effort to silence her voice. Any attempt to arrest her, she warns, would serve as undeniable evidence that Nigeria’s democratic ideals are under severe threat.
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