By Stanley Onyekwere
The Women for Democratic Accountability (WDA), a national coalition advocating for women’s participation in governance and the protection of democratic structures, has raised serious concerns over what it described as Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s “escalating media offensive” in her ongoing dispute with the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
In a statement issued at the weekend and signed by the group’s convener, Hajia Zainab Mohammed, WDA said Senator Natasha’s repeated public comments, particularly a December 5 social-media post, reflect a “pattern of incendiary rhetoric” that threatens the integrity of the nation’s institutions.
According to the coalition, Senator Natasha has “consistently chosen media confrontations over respect for judicial processes,” despite the matter being before the courts. WDA argued that as a female leader and lawmaker, the senator carries a heightened responsibility to uphold decorum, restraint, and institutional respect.
The statement accused Senator Natasha of making sweeping remarks that “ridicule the Senate, disparage the Senate President, and cast aspersions on the courts,” actions the group warned could erode confidence in the nation’s democratic pillars.
“This reckless media crusade does not empower women. It does not strengthen institutions. It does not promote justice,” the statement read.
WDA further expressed concern that the senator’s communication style marked by what it called “provocative taunts and courtroom-in-the-media declarations” is turning a serious legal dispute into “a performative spectacle aimed at inflaming public sentiment.”
The coalition urged the judiciary to intervene and caution litigants against making public statements capable of prejudicing ongoing court proceedings. It stressed that no individual, regardless of status, should “pollute judicial processes with inflammatory commentary.”
“The dignity of the Senate, the authority of the courts, and the credibility of women’s leadership must not be sacrificed on the altar of media grandstanding,” the group added.
WDA reaffirmed its commitment to women’s rights, but emphasized the need for responsibility, truth, and adherence to due process. It called on Senator Natasha to allow the courts, not social-media platforms, to determine the merits of her claims.
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