Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Tuesday resumed work at the National Assembly after months of suspension, openly describing Senate President Godswill Akpabio as a “dictator.”
Her office in Suite 2.05 of the Senate Wing was unsealed by the Deputy Director of the Sergeant-at-Arms, Alabi Adedeji.
In a short video, Adedeji said, “I, Alabi Adedeji, Deputy Director, Sergeant-at-Arms, hereby unseal the office. The office is hereby unsealed. Thank you.”
Natasha, who represents Kogi Central, had been suspended on March 6, 2025, after protesting the reassignment of her seat. The Senate barred her for six months, but a Federal High Court in Abuja later ruled that the suspension was excessive and unconstitutional. Despite the ruling, she faced months of resistance from Senate leadership before her office was reopened.
Speaking after her return, Natasha said she had “no apology to tender.” She added, “It is so unfortunate that we will have a National Assembly being run by such a dictator. It is totally unacceptable. 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.”
She thanked her supporters, saying, “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.”
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Natasha also vowed not to bow to intimidation.
“We can’t cower in the face of injustice. No one is more Nigerian than us,” she said.
It remains unclear if she will be allowed to sit with her colleagues when plenary resumes on October 7. The Senate leadership had earlier shifted the resumption date from September 23, citing the need for lawmakers to fully observe Independence Day celebrations.
The new date was announced in a memo signed by Chinedu Akubueze, Chief of Staff to the Senate President.
It read in part, “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 delay means that key debates, pending motions, and oversight inquiries will remain on hold until the chamber reconvenes.