Former Minister of Education and public accountability advocate, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has called on the Senate to end what she described as the “injustice, harassment, and institutional bullying” of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, following her reinstatement to the Red Chamber.

In a memo addressed to the Senate leadership and all 107 senators, Ezekwesili, who congratulated the Kogi Central lawmaker on her return, noted that the circumstances surrounding her earlier suspension had stained the image of the legislature.

“Senator Natasha’s suspension was not just unfair — it was punitive and politically motivated. It sent the wrong signal that a woman who speaks boldly can be silenced by those who fear her courage,” Ezekwesili declared.

Describing Akpoti-Uduaghan as “a symbol of fortitude and resilience,” the onetime Minister of Mines and Steel Development said Natasha’s reinstatement offers the Senate “a rare opportunity to correct a grave injustice to show Nigerians that democracy can still protect the brave, not punish them.”

Ezekwesili urged the Senate to immediately stop all forms of hostility, subtle punishment, or institutional isolation against Akpoti-Uduaghan, restore her full rights and privileges, and ensure her complete reintegration into legislative work.

“There must be no more attempts to frustrate or humiliate her. Leadership is not proven by intimidation but by fairness, restraint, and the courage to do what is right,” she said.

The two-time minister, known for her uncompromising stance on governance ethics, said that Natasha’s case goes beyond one woman or one seat in the Senate.

“It is a mirror of Nigeria’s democracy and its treatment of women in power. This is bigger than Natasha. It’s about whether we are building a democracy that rewards truth and integrity — or one that punishes women who refuse to bow,” she stated.

She reminded the Senate that Akpoti-Uduaghan represents the people of Kogi Central, and any continued mistreatment of her would amount to disrespecting the voters’ mandate.

“To target her again would be to mock the people who sent her to the Senate. Nigerians are watching, and history will not be kind to a legislature that mistakes power for impunity,” Ezekwesili warned.

Ezekwesili concluded by urging the 11th Senate to use this moment to redeem its image and prove that justice, not politics, still guides the nation’s lawmakers.

“The world is watching to see whether the Senate will choose vindictiveness or justice. This is its chance to lead by example,” she added.