After months of controversy and courtroom battles, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has made a bold return to the Senate, ending her six-month suspension imposed in March 2025.
The Kogi Central lawmaker, known for her outspoken nature, is resuming plenary duties with a message of resilience and defiance.
Her lawyer, Victor Giwa, confirmed that Akpoti-Uduaghan would be present at Tuesday’s sitting, stressing that she had fulfilled every condition attached to her suspension.
Giwa warned that any attempt to bar her from the chamber would violate the Senate’s own resolution and spark a constitutional crisis.
“Our client has served her term. She is fully entitled to resume,” he said. “The National Assembly cannot operate on the whims of a few individuals. Its actions must remain guided by law.”
Six months of political storms and legal battles
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s ordeal began in March, when the Senate leadership suspended her for alleged misconduct following her protest over the reassignment of her seat.
The suspension, widely criticised as politically motivated, locked her out of plenary sessions and sealed off her office for months.
The senator later accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of high-handedness, describing him as a “dictator” who treats colleagues as subordinates.
Despite intense pressure and public backlash, she refused to apologise or retract her statements.
“It’s unfortunate that the National Assembly is being run like a personal empire,” she said recently. “No one is more Nigerian than I am, and no senator should be treated like a domestic servant.”
Her office, located in Suite 2.05 of the Senate Wing, was finally reopened last month by the Sergeant-at-Arms Department, marking the first visible sign of her imminent reinstatement.
All eyes on the Senate as plenary resumes
The Senate, which extended its annual recess to October 7, reconvenes today amid a tense political atmosphere. Many observers are watching closely to see how the chamber’s leadership will handle Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return.
Her comeback reignites debate about transparency, gender representation, and the independence of lawmakers within Nigeria’s legislative system.
As plenary resumes, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return is seen not just as a personal victory but also as a test of institutional fairness.
For the senator, it is a moment of vindication and a chance to prove that resilience, not silence, defines political strength.