Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, is set to officially resume plenary sessions at the National Assembly Today being 7th of October, 2025, marking the end of a contentious six-month suspension that sparked legal battles and accusations of political silencing.
The suspension, imposed in March 2025, stemmed from alleged misconduct during a dispute over her committee reassignment by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, whom she accused of sexual harassment—a claim the Senate dismissed on procedural grounds, citing “unruly and disruptive” behavior instead.
A Federal High Court later ruled the penalty excessive and unconstitutional, denying her constituents representation, though the Senate resisted reinstatement amid ongoing appeals.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s office in Suite 2.05 was unsealed by Sergeant-at-Arms Deputy Director Alabi Adedeji, allowing her entry with supporters waving Nigerian flags.
Unapologetic, she declared, “no apology to tender,” criticizing Akpabio’s leadership as a “dictatorship” and vowing to challenge injustice. “In retrospect, it is actually amazing how much we have had to pay in the past six months, from the unjust suspension to the recall,” she added, feeling “vindicated” after gaining access.
The senator, one of few women in the 109-member chamber, thanked supporters like Atiku Abubakar and Bukola Saraki.
Her return shows tensions over parliamentary privileges, women’s rights, and Senate autonomy, with groups like the NLC condemning delays.
As she is set to join other lawmakers, will there be another drama in Nigeria’s National Assembly Complex?