Natasha returns to plenary as Senate resumes today
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central is expected to make a dramatic return to the Senate today (Tuesday) after serving out her six-month suspension, but not without tension hanging in the air.
Her lawyer, Victor Giwa, confirmed the development in an interview with Punch, insisting that his client is legally cleared to resume plenary duties.
“The worst is over,” Giwa said confidently. “Our client should go straight and resume on Tuesday. Anything else is just opinion. The Senate cannot legalise illegality.”
He warned that any attempt by the Senate leadership to block her entry would amount to “total chaos,” stressing that the upper chamber must abide by its own resolutions.
“Blocking her again means the Senate is contradicting itself. She has served her suspension. Anything further would be pure lawlessness,” Giwa added.
The Senate had extended its annual recess by two weeks, shifting its resumption from September 23 to October 7, 2025 — delaying deliberations on key national matters.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s troubles began in February when she protested against the reassignment of her seat by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, a move that led to her suspension on March 6 for alleged misconduct.
Although her six-month ban technically expired in September, she was unable to resume due to legal hurdles and pushback from Senate leadership.
Two weeks ago, however, the Kogi lawmaker reclaimed her office, Suite 2.05 in the Senate Wing, after it was unsealed by the National Assembly Sergeant-at-Arms, Alabi Adedeji.
Speaking then, Akpoti-Uduaghan took a direct swipe at Akpabio.
“It’s amazing how much we’ve endured these past six months — from the unjust suspension to the recall. But we survived the recall, the blackmail, and that crazy lady on Facebook,” she said.
“In everything, sometimes it’s good to push the institution to the test. We can’t cower in the face of injustice. No one is more Nigerian than us. Senator Akpabio is not more of a senator than I am. Nigerian Culture Book
“He’s not the governor of this place, yet he treated me like a domestic staff. It’s unfortunate that our National Assembly is being run by such a dictator. It’s totally unacceptable.”
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