Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to Resume Senate Duties After Six-Month Suspension
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central is set to return to the Senate on September 23, following the completion of her six-month suspension.
She was suspended on March 6 after a heated session in which she refused a seat reassignment, spoke out of order, and made remarks that Senate leaders described as misconduct. The sanction stripped her of access to office, security, aides, and pay.
Akpoti-Uduaghan has consistently argued that the suspension was politically driven. She linked it to her petition accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment—a claim the Senate dismissed on procedural grounds.
A Federal High Court overturned the suspension in July, ruling it excessive and disproportionate. Her lawyer, Victor Giwa, confirmed that administrative and security arrangements have now been finalised for her return.
The senator’s comeback is expected to draw attention within and outside the chamber. Supporters view her as a symbol of resistance in a political space where female voices are rare. Critics, however, remain sceptical, pointing to the tensions that led to her suspension in the first place.
Her re-entry sets the stage for renewed debate on accountability, gender dynamics, and the limits of parliamentary discipline in Nigeria’s National Assembly.
