Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Resumes Duty, Accuses Senate President of Dictatorial Rule

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has officially returned to her legislative duties in the Upper Chamber following the expiration of her controversial six-month suspension. Her return on Tuesday, September 23, was marked by a strong statement against the Senate leadership, with the lawmaker from Kogi Central describing the institution as being run like a dictatorship. . She made it clear that she has no intentions of apologizing to Senate President Godswill Akpabio for her actions or statements.

In a press briefing outside her unsealed office, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan condemned her suspension as illegal and lamented what she called the “unfortunate” state of Nigeria’s democracy. She was quoted as saying, “It is so unfortunate that we will have a National Assembly being run by such a dictator. It is totally unacceptable.” Her comments come as the climax of a long-standing public and legal battle with the Senate’s leadership, which began in February over a dispute regarding her seating arrangement and subsequently ignited a firestorm of allegations, including her claim of sexual harassment against the Senate President.

The Senate had formally suspended her on March 6 for “misconduct” and “breach of standing rules” after she protested the reassignment of her seat. The suspension, which drew criticism from civil society organizations and political groups, stripped her of her salary, official privileges, and access to her office. Although a Federal High Court had previously ruled the suspension excessive and unconstitutional, the Senate had refused to reinstate her, citing a pending appeal.

Despite the legal and political tussle, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s office was finally unsealed by the Sergeant-at-Arms on Tuesday. While she can now access her office, her return to full legislative duties is expected to be formalized when the Senate resumes plenary sessions on October 7. The lawmaker, who was accompanied by a crowd of supporters, remained defiant, vowing to continue her fight against injustice. Her return signals a new phase in her feud with the Senate leadership, as the country watches how the drama will unfold.