The lingering controversy over the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) has taken a fresh turn, with the National Assembly formally barring her from resuming duties despite her insistence that her six-month suspension had elapsed.
On September 4, 2025, the lawmaker wrote to the leadership of the Assembly, notifying them of her plan to return to plenary and her office at the Senate. Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that her suspension, imposed on March 6, 2025, had expired by effluxion of time, making her eligible to reclaim her seat.
In her strongly worded letter to the Clerk of the National Assembly, the senator maintained that the suspension was for a definite period and could not be extended beyond its six-month lifespan.
“The suspension was for a definite period of six months, not indefinite. Upon expiration, my full rights and privileges as a Senator are automatically restored,” she wrote.
She further argued that resumption was her constitutional right, irrespective of ongoing appeals, noting that both she and Senate President Godswill Akpabio had filed separate appeals at the Court of Appeal over aspects of the Federal High Court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasized that denying her entry into the National Assembly would amount to a breach of natural justice and fair hearing. She also demanded immediate access to her senatorial office, citing the need to prepare for pending legislative business, constituency matters, and committee assignments.
But in a response signed by the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, the institution dismissed her claims, stressing that her resumption could not be facilitated while the matter was still subjudice.
The Clerk acknowledged receipt of her letter but insisted that the appeal before the Court of Appeal tied the Assembly’s hands.
“The matter, therefore, remains subjudice, and until the judicial process is concluded and the Senate formally reviews the suspension in the light of the court’s pronouncement, no administrative action can be taken by this office to facilitate your resumption,” the Clerk wrote.
He assured her that she would be duly informed once the Senate reaches a final decision after the appellate court delivers its judgment.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s troubles began in March when she clashed with Senate President Akpabio during a heated plenary over seating arrangements and alleged discrimination in the chamber. The incident led to a disciplinary process that culminated in her six-month suspension.
Her subsequent legal challenge yielded a mixed outcome. While the Federal High Court in July described aspects of her suspension as excessive and unconstitutional, it also ruled in favor of the Senate’s disciplinary powers. Dissatisfied, both parties proceeded to the Court of Appeal, setting the stage for the current stalemate.
The impasse has rekindled debate over the powers of the legislature to suspend elected representatives and the constitutional implications of denying constituents representation. Legal analysts note that the outcome of the appellate court case will likely set a precedent for the limits of parliamentary privilege.
Civil society groups have also expressed concern, arguing that prolonged suspensions—especially when challenged in court—risk disenfranchising voters.
As the Senate remains on recess, the stalemate continues. While Akpoti-Uduaghan insists on her right to resume immediately, the Assembly maintains that due process must run its full course.
For now, the senator’s office remains under lock and key, and her constituents are left in limbo as the legal battle grinds on.
The Court of Appeal’s eventual ruling will not only determine Natasha’s fate but could also redefine the boundaries of legislative discipline in Nigeria’s evolving democracy.
