Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has confirmed she will resume her duties at the National Assembly on Tuesday, July 9, following her court-ordered reinstatement. The embattled Kogi Central lawmaker made the declaration in a viral video shared Monday, July 7, while addressing cheering supporters at her Abuja residence.
Grateful for the unwavering public support, Akpoti-Uduaghan declared, “We are victorious. I thank you for your support. We shall resume in the Senate on Tuesday by the grace of God.” Her statement follows the landmark judgment delivered last Friday by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, which declared her six-month suspension by the Senate unconstitutional.
The court ruled that the action taken by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his colleagues deprived the people of Kogi Central of their right to representation, violating Section 39 and 68 of the Nigerian Constitution. The judge stressed that the suspension exceeded the limits of legislative discipline and amounted to legislative overreach.
Justice Nyako further criticized Akpoti-Uduaghan for mocking the court’s gag order through a satirical Facebook apology posted on April 7. She was found guilty of contempt, fined ₦5 million, and instructed to tender a formal apology in two national newspapers and her Facebook page within seven days.
Despite the contempt ruling, civil rights groups and pro-democracy advocates have hailed the court’s main judgment as a pivotal defense of democracy. Analysts say the ruling could set a significant legal precedent protecting elected lawmakers from politically motivated suspensions.
Supporters across social media have already begun mobilizing in anticipation of her return to the red chamber. Calls for Senate compliance with the court order have intensified, with many urging Akpabio not to flout the ruling amid growing public scrutiny.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return marks not just a personal political comeback, but a symbolic win for Nigeria’s constitutional democracy at a time when legislative accountability is under renewed public watch.
