Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central has regained access to her office at the National Assembly, this is coming months after her dramatic suspension from the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
On Tuesday, the Deputy Director of the Sergeant-at-Arms, Alabi Adedeji, led security operatives to unseal Suite 2.05 of the Senate wing, marking a turning point in the lawmaker’s prolonged standoff with the Senate leadership.
A Suspension That Stirred Controversy
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on March 6, 2025, following heated exchanges with Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The Senate accused her of breaching its standing orders after she protested the reassignment of her seat. As part of the sanction, she was barred from plenary sessions, stripped of her office, and excluded from all legislative activities for six months.
Her suspension immediately sparked outrage from civil society groups and political observers, who argued that it left the people of Kogi Central without representation.
Legal Pushback
In July, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, described the suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional.” The court warned that prolonged exclusion of an elected lawmaker undermines democratic representation.
Despite the ruling, the Senate insisted she serve her full suspension term, effectively preventing her return until September. Even after the six months lapsed, her access to the Assembly was delayed, with leadership citing unresolved legal and procedural issues.
Why the Unsealing Matters Now
Tuesday’s reopening of her office is widely interpreted as a signal that the Senate may allow her full reintegration once plenary resumes on October 7. Insiders suggest that Senate leadership reached a consensus during a recent meeting: Natasha may be required to issue a formal apology before a motion for reinstatement is tabled on the floor.
If adopted, the motion will likely be sponsored by the Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, and seconded before being subjected to the chamber’s approval.
Scenes at the National Assembly
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan arrived at the complex shortly after her office was unsealed, accompanied by a group of loyal supporters. While security personnel dispersed the crowd with teargas at the gates, the senator was eventually escorted into the premises and settled into her office.
Her brief presence in the chambers signaled determination to resume legislative duties, even as debates continue over conditions for her full reinstatement.
The Road Ahead
As plenary resumes next month, all eyes will be on how the Senate reconciles its internal disciplinary measures with the court’s pronouncements. For her supporters, the reopening of her office is a symbolic victory; for her critics, it is merely procedural, pending a formal resolution of the dispute.
Either way, the episode has reignited discussions about legislative accountability, constitutional rights, and the balance of power within Nigeria’s democracy.
