The civil society organisation, Action Collective, has criticised a recent session of the Senate Committee on the North Central Development Commission, describing the alleged exclusion of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as a grave concern for democratic representation and transparency.
In a statement released on Monday and signed by its National Coordinator, Teddy Onyejuwe, the group accused the committee—headed by Senator Titus Zam—of staging what it called a “procedural ambush” during deliberations with the Commission on its 2026 budget proposal at the National Assembly of Nigeria.
According to the group, the alleged exclusion of Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, raises significant constitutional and ethical questions. Action Collective maintained that deliberating on development allocations that directly affect a constituency without the presence of its duly elected senator runs contrary to the principles of representative democracy.
The statement further argued that citing internal committee protocols as justification for participation does not excuse the failure to notify or include a senator from the impacted region. It described the omission of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s name from the attendance register as alarming, warning that such actions risk eroding public confidence in the legislative process.
Action Collective also denounced the reported seizure of a staff member’s phone allegedly used to record the proceedings, characterising the act as intimidation that conflicts with democratic standards and legislative ethics. The organisation emphasised that any attempt to suppress documentation of public legislative sessions threatens transparency and accountability.
The group called on Senate leadership to provide clarity on whether the alleged exclusion was the result of an administrative lapse or a calculated political move. It demanded an independent investigation into the matter, full disclosure of attendance guidelines, publication of invitation records, and a formal apology to the senator and her constituents should any misconduct be established.
Action Collective concluded by warning that democratic institutions cannot preserve their legitimacy if they appear selective in participation, adding that civil society organisations will continue to monitor the situation closely.
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