Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, is expected back on the Senate floor later this month after serving a six-month suspension that rocked the upper chamber and sparked nationwide debate. Her lawyer, Victor Giwa, confirmed she will resume plenary when lawmakers reconvene on September 23, 2025, following her return from a private trip to London.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Giwa emphasized that no hurdles remain to her reinstatement. “Everything is in place, and the six months have expired. The Senate leadership itself is ready to welcome her back. There is no obstacle at all,” he assured, dismissing speculation of further resistance from within the chamber.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on March 6, 2025, after rejecting a seat reassignment during plenary, a move the Senate described as “insubordination.” The sanction, based on recommendations of the Ethics and Privileges Committee, went further by stripping her of aides, office perks, and salaries — an unprecedented punishment critics said was politically motivated.
The senator, however, insisted her ordeal was linked to her petition accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment — a charge the Senate flatly denied. Her legal challenge produced a judgment she said favoured her reinstatement, but the Senate leadership maintained the suspension would run its full course.
The standoff escalated in July 2025 when she attempted to force her way back into the National Assembly. Security operatives blocked her entry despite a large crowd of supporters protesting outside the complex. That confrontation underscored the tension surrounding her case and drew condemnation from women’s rights groups and opposition figures.
With the suspension officially lapsing on September 6, her team believes lingering court disputes have effectively become redundant. “Even the court cases will now be academic. What matters is that she is resuming as a full senator,” Giwa stated.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return is expected to reignite conversations around gender equity and political accountability in Nigeria’s legislature. Her allies frame her resilience as a symbol of defiance against entrenched power structures, while critics argue she must now focus on legislative business rather than personal battles. Either way, all eyes will be on her first appearance back in the red chamber.
