Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Set to Resume Senate Duties After Six-Month Suspension

After serving her six-month suspension, the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, is expected to officially resume plenary sessions alongside other lawmakers today (Tuesday).

The assurance was given by one of her lawyers, Victor Giwa, in an interview with The PUNCH.

The Senate had earlier postponed its resumption from September 23 to October 7, 2025—extending its annual recess by two weeks and delaying deliberations on several key national issues.

Giwa cautioned the Senate against any attempt to block Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return, stressing that she has completed her suspension and is constitutionally entitled to resume legislative duties.

He said, “Our client should go straight to the chamber and resume on Tuesday. Anything else is merely an opinion. As Femi Falana rightly stated, the Senate cannot become an institution that legalises illegality. The National Assembly is a creation of law, and its actions must be guided by law, not by the whims of a few individuals.”

According to him, preventing her from resuming would contradict the Senate’s own resolution and plunge the legislature into “total chaos.”

“She has already served the six months, so whatever is in court now is simply to determine whether the suspension in March was valid. It has nothing to do with her resumption,” he added.

“If the Senate denies her entry, it will be acting against its own resolution and the basis for her suspension. That would be total chaos—and the National Assembly cannot afford to promote such disorder.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan had previously described Senate President Godswill Akpabio as a “dictator” when she was allowed into her office two weeks ago following the completion of her suspension. Her office, located in Suite 2.05 of the Senate Wing, was unsealed by the Deputy Director of the National Assembly Sergeant-at-Arms, Alabi Adedeji.

Upon resumption, the lawmaker remained defiant, insisting she had “no apology to tender.”

She said, “It’s amazing what we’ve endured over the past six months—from an unjust suspension to recall attempts, blackmail, and even online attacks. But we survived it all. Sometimes, institutions must be tested. We cannot cower in the face of injustice. Senator Akpabio is not more of a senator than I am. He is not the governor of this place, yet he treated me like domestic staff in his house. It’s unfortunate that the National Assembly is being run by such a dictator. It’s totally unacceptable.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s office had been locked since March 6, 2025, following her suspension over alleged misconduct during a protest against the reassignment of her seat by the Senate President on February 20.

Although her suspension formally lapsed in September, her return was delayed by legal disputes and resistance from Senate leadership.

Efforts to reach Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu and the media aide to the Senate President for comment were unsuccessful, as calls and messages went unanswered.

With the National Assembly resuming today after its extended recess, public attention is now fixed on the red chamber to see whether Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan will be allowed to walk back into plenary—or be blocked at the gates.