Hundreds of constituents from Kogi central have taken to the streets in support of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents the district in the upper legislative chamber.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the senate on March 6 for “gross misconduct” following a seating arrangement dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
She had earlier accused Akpabio of sexual harassment.
The protests were triggered by recent attempts by certain Kogi central constituents to initiate a recall process against Akpoti-Uduaghan.
They carried banners with inscriptions that read: ‘Natasha, Pride of Kogi Central’, ‘Protect Kogi Central Constituents’, and ‘We Stand with Natasha’.
The protesters, among them men, women, and youths, broke into songs in the Ebira language, mocking those who had initiated the recall process.
Chanting in unison, they sang: “They should be ashamed of themselves! Shame has caught them after collecting N10,000 and jollof rice from Akpabio!”
On Thursday, the federal high court in Lokoja granted an interim injunction preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or acting on petitions to recall Akpoti-Uduaghan.
On Friday, the court vacated the order, saying it is the civic right of constituents to recall any lawmaker.