The Nigerian Senate has unsealed the office of embattled Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), after months of political and legal wrangling with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
On Tuesday, combined security personnel and the Sergeant-at-Arms of the National Assembly reopened her office, giving the suspended lawmaker full access to the Senate wing. This development signals the beginning of the end of her prolonged standoff with Senate leadership.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended in March 2025 for alleged misconduct during a heated protest over her reassigned seat by Akpabio, had been barred from all activities of the 10th Senate for six months. Though her suspension officially ended in September, she was denied entry, sparking a protracted legal and political battle.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Binta Nyako, ruled in July that the suspension was excessive and unconstitutional, stressing that a lengthy suspension left her constituents without representation. Despite the ruling, the Senate insisted she serve her full suspension.
Her lawyer, Michael Jonathan Numa (SAN), later petitioned the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Kamorudeen Ogunlana, demanding her reinstatement. Numa warned that continued obstruction could trigger contempt charges and even national security risks. However, the CNA maintained he lacked the constitutional authority to override Senate resolutions, insisting the matter rested solely with the chamber’s leadership.
Sources inside the National Assembly revealed that the decision to unseal her office was reached during a Senate leadership meeting. A motion is expected when plenary resumes on October 7, with Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro likely to move for her reinstatement, pending her formal apology.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, once Chair of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, has remained defiant throughout her suspension. She accused Senate leadership of silencing dissent, while the Senate maintained her punishment stemmed from violating standing orders, not personal or gender-related issues.
With her office now open, she is poised to make a comeback to legislative duties after nearly seven months of absence. The move also suggests Senate leadership is preparing to formally settle the matter before the next session begins.
Her return will be closely watched, as it may reshape the dynamics of minority politics in the Senate, especially within the PDP caucus that has consistently pushed back against Akpabio’s dominance.
Post Views: 104
