By Our Reporter
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Tuesday reclaimed her office at the National Assembly after a six-month suspension. She declared that her ordeal was not just a personal battle. She called it “a breach of democratic principles and an affront to the people of Kogi Central.”
Addressing supporters and journalists shortly after regaining access to her office, Natasha expressed gratitude to her constituents, civil society groups, and legal advocates who supported her. She described her experience as “months of political exclusion.” She said their solidarity ensured her voice, and that of her people, was not silenced.
“The attempt to lock me out was an attempt to lock out the will of my constituents,” she said. “No legislature should use suspension as a weapon to punish dissent or suppress accountability. Democracy thrives on debate, not exclusion.”
Her remarks come after mounting criticism of the Senate’s March decision to suspend her for alleged rule violations. Legal scholars, civil society organizations, and rights advocates condemned the action as unconstitutional. Many warned that it amounted to disenfranchisement of her senatorial district.
While her office has now been reopened, divisions remain within the Senate over the terms of her return. Some lawmakers are said to favour her immediate reinstatement, while others insist she must first apologise. Natasha, however, made clear she owed no apology, insisting that “defending truth and accountability can never be misconduct.”
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended by the Senate in March 2025 for alleged breaches of chamber rules, including defying the Committee on Ethics and Privileges. The move followed weeks of tension after she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment—an allegation he strongly denied—and clashed with leadership over transparency issues.
Observers say her return will test the Senate’s commitment to constitutional values and determine whether the chamber is prepared to respect democratic norms or continue wielding suspension as a tool of political control.