By Safiyat Muhammed | The Bureau News
The Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has officially resumed her legislative duties at the National Assembly after months of suspension, describing Senate President Godswill Akpabio as a “dictator.”
Her return followed the unsealing of her office, Suite 2.05 of the Senate Wing, by Deputy Director of the National Assembly Sergeant-at-Arms, Alabi Adedeji, on Tuesday.
“I, Alabi Adedeji, Deputy Director, Sergeant-at-Arms, hereby unseal the office. The office is hereby unsealed. Thank you,” Adedeji declared in a video shared online.
Natasha: “I Have No Apology to Tender”
Upon resumption, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed gratitude to her constituents but remained defiant against the Senate leadership.
She said:
“In retrospect, it is actually amazing how much we have had to pay in the past six months, from the unjust suspension to the recall. But we survived the recall, blackmail and that crazy lady on Facebook.
It is amazing what we had to pass through, and I give God Almighty the glory and my deepest appreciation to the people of Kogi Central and Nigerians at large. To my husband, I love you dearly. I pray all men support their wives in the same manner you have supported me.
Senator Akpabio is not more of a senator than I am. He is not the governor of this place, yet he treated me as if I were a servant or domestic staff in his house. It is so unfortunate that we will have a National Assembly being run by such a dictator. It is totally unacceptable.”
Her office had been locked since March 6, 2025, following her six-month suspension for alleged misconduct.
Court Ruling and Senate Defiance
Although her suspension lapsed in September, Natasha was unable to return due to legal tussles. On July 4, 2025, the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled the suspension “excessive and unconstitutional.”
She wrote to the Senate to notify them of her intention to resume duties, but the request was initially ignored by Senate leadership.
It remains unclear whether her full privileges as a senator will now be restored when plenary resumes on October 7, 2025.
Senate Shifts Resumption Date
Meanwhile, the Senate leadership has once again shifted the resumption of plenary from September 23 to October 7, 2025, extending the chamber’s recess by another two weeks.
In a memo signed by Chinedu Akubueze, Chief of Staff to Senate President Akpabio, senators were informed of the adjustment:
“This is to respectfully inform distinguished senators that the resumption of plenary sitting of the Senate, earlier scheduled for Tuesday, 23rd September, 2025, has been shifted to Tuesday, 7th October, 2025. Any inconvenience this short notice may cause is deeply regretted.”
The postponement has raised concerns as critical debates, oversight motions, and pending executive confirmations will remain on hold.
Analysis
The confrontation between Senator Natasha and Senate leadership has exposed deep divisions within the 10th Senate. Her defiance is seen by many as a test of institutional integrity, while critics of Akpabio argue that the suspension was politically motivated.
As Nigerians await the October 7 resumption, all eyes will be on whether Senator Natasha will be fully reintegrated or face fresh hostilities.
