Nigeria, March 7 -- Power, when wielded without accountability, becomes a weapon. And in Nigeria's Senate, that weapon is often aimed not at the enemies of progress but at the very principles of democracy. From reckless suspensions to self-serving legislations, from silencing dissent to shielding corruption, the Senate has become a fortress of unchecked power, where political elites operate with impunity, insulated from the very people they are supposed to represent.

The recent recommendation to suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months over allegations of misconduct is a glaring example of how power is abused in Nigeria's upper legislative chamber. The speed with which this decision was reached is nothing short of astonishi...