- Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has returned to the Nigerian Senate after a six-month suspension.
- Her suspension was imposed in March 2025 and followed months of legal battles and public controversy.
- Akpoti-Uduaghan represents Kogi Central and is known for her fearless and outspoken approach.
After months of legal battles and public controversy, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has officially returned to the Nigerian Senate, marking the end of her six-month suspension imposed in March 2025.
The Kogi Central representative, known for her fearless and outspoken stance, resumes her legislative duties with renewed determination and a message of resilience
Her counsel, Victor Giwa, confirmed that the senator would attend Tuesday’s plenary, noting that all conditions tied to her suspension had been met.
“Our client has completed her suspension term and has every legal right to return to the chamber,” Giwa stated. “The Senate must act in accordance with its own resolutions and the law, not personal interests.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended earlier this year over allegations of misconduct after protesting the reassignment of her seat. The decision, which many critics described as politically motivated, excluded her from all plenary sessions and led to the sealing of her office
The senator later accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of authoritarian conduct, calling him a “dictator” who disregards the independence of his colleagues. Despite intense pressure to apologise, she maintained her position and refused to retract her remarks.
“It’s disheartening that the National Assembly is being run like a private empire,” she said. “Every senator deserves equal respect no one should be treated as inferior.”
Last month, her office in Suite 2.05 of the Senate Wing was reopened by the Sergeant-at-Arms, signalling her impending reinstatement.
With the Senate reconvening today after an extended recess, political observers are keenly watching how its leadership will respond to her return.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s reinstatement has reignited national discussion on legislative transparency, gender representation, and institutional independence within the National Assembly.
For many, her comeback symbolizes not just a personal triumph but also a broader test of fairness and accountability in Nigeria’s democratic system.
To the senator, it marks a moment of vindication a reminder that persistence, not submission, defines true political courage.