After six months in political limbo, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has formally resumed legislative duties following the lifting of her suspension by the Senate.
Her return was marked on Tuesday when security operatives and officials of the Sergeant-at-Arms unsealed her office in the Senate Wing of the National Assembly. The office had remained under lock and key since March 6, when she was suspended after a series of confrontations in the chamber.
In a video that surfaced online, Alabi Adedeji, Deputy Director at the Sergeant-at-Arms, was seen breaking the red seal on the door. The scene was met with cheers from Akpoti-Uduaghan’s supporters, who described it as a triumph of resilience against political intimidation.
Speaking after reclaiming her seat, the Kogi lawmaker maintained a defiant stance, declaring that she owed “no apologies” for her actions. She recounted the toll of the suspension on her career and constituency but insisted it was necessary to test the limits of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
> “We cannot bow to injustice. No one is more Nigerian than I am, and no senator should be treated like a servant,” she said, accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of running the chamber like a “dictatorship.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension had been steeped in controversy, from disputes over seating arrangements to allegations of sexual harassment she levelled against the Senate President. While critics argue her fiery style often breaches legislative decorum, her supporters view her as a symbol of women’s political resilience in a male-dominated parliament.
Reactions to her reinstatement have been swift. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar welcomed the move, warning that silencing opposition voices undermines democracy. He alleged that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s ordeal reflected broader attempts to weaken institutions under the current administration.
Activist Aisha Yesufu also weighed in, accusing the Senate of allowing itself to be used as a political tool. “The Senate has allowed itself to be used. Hope they get their independence,” she wrote on X.
Legal experts, however, cautioned the senator to operate within the rules of the chamber. Olu Omotayo, President of the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network, stressed that while it was unjust to deny Kogi Central representation, Akpoti-Uduaghan must abide by Senate regulations to avoid fresh sanctions.
Public affairs analyst, Dr Nduka Odo, added a note of warning: “Her colleagues may attempt to frame or discredit her. Unless she plays a smarter game, her re-election in 2027 could be at risk.”
