Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), officially returned to her seat at the National Assembly on Tuesday following the completion of her six-month suspension.
The senator arrived at the Senate chambers at exactly 11:42 a.m., marking her first plenary attendance since March 2025. Upon arrival, she made her way to her seat, exchanged greetings with a few colleagues, and settled in to resume legislative duties.
Her return drew notable attention, as she was accompanied by prominent activist and Bring Back Our Girls co-convener, Aisha Yesufu, who was sighted in the Senate gallery. However, several of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s supporters were denied entry into the chamber.
The senator’s suspension had officially lapsed earlier in September, but her return was delayed due to legal and administrative challenges. The Sergeant-at-Arms of the National Assembly, alongside security personnel, had previously reopened her office, Suite 2.05, after her suspension period expired.
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Akpoti-Uduaghan, who formerly chaired the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, was suspended in March 2025 following a confrontation over the reassignment of her seat by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on February 20, 2025. The Senate accused her of misconduct and barred her from participating in all legislative activities for six months.
Despite the suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan maintained her stance, insisting she had nothing to apologize for.
In July, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, described the six-month suspension as unconstitutional, emphasizing that such prolonged disciplinary action deprived her constituents of representation. The court ordered her reinstatement, a directive the Senate leadership initially resisted, insisting that she must serve her full suspension term.
Her legal counsel, Michael Jonathan Numa (SAN), subsequently wrote to the Clerk of the National Assembly (CNA), Kamorudeen Ogunlana, demanding her immediate recall and threatening legal action for non-compliance.
In response, the CNA clarified through a statement by the Director of Information, Bullah Audu Bi-Allah, that his office lacked the authority to override Senate resolutions, explaining that the power to determine her reinstatement lies solely with the Senate.
Following the expiration of her suspension and amid growing public interest, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan finally rejoined her colleagues at plenary on Tuesday, signaling her full return to legislative duties.
Her resumption marks the end of a prolonged political standoff between the senator and the upper chamber’s leadership, as many await how the Senate will reintegrate her into its proceedings.
Source: Vanguard News
