Despite the expiration of her six-month suspension, the National Assembly has declined to reinstate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central, citing ongoing litigation.
In a letter dated 4 September 2025, the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Dr Yahaya Danzaria, responded to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s notification dated 28 August of her intention to resume duties on 4 September.
He firmly stated that her suspension, which began on 6 March 2025, “remains sub judice, 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.”
In her letter to the Clerk, Akpoti-Uduaghan wrote: “I write to formally notify you of my decision to resume my legislative function upon the expiration of the suspension period.”
She added that, by operation of calendar, her suspension had lapsed, entitling her to resume “full duties as a distinguished senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”
She emphasised that this should be “without prejudice to the appeals filed at the Court of Appeal,” and demanded prompt access to her senatorial office to address pressing constituency responsibilities, pending legislative business, committee obligations, and preparations for plenary sittings.
However, Danzaria noted that in light of the appeal before the Court of Appeal, no administrative facilitation of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return would be possible until the judicial process is concluded and the Senate itself reviews the suspension.
He gave assurances that she “will be duly notified of the Senate’s decision on the matter as soon as it is resolved.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension was imposed on 6 March 2025 following a fracas with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over seating arrangements in plenary.
The Senate’s Ethics Committee cited gross misconduct, stripped her of security and allowances, locked her office, and barred her from entering the National Assembly complex.
In July 2025, the Federal High Court ruled the suspension “excessive and unconstitutional,” though it stopped short of mandating immediate reinstatement and instead issued an advisory recommendation in favour of recall.
Both Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate President have appealed the judgment to the Court of Appeal, making the dispute firmly legal in nature.
With the decision of the Senate, the prospect of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return hinges on the appellate court’s verdict and subsequent Senate action. Until then, the seat of Kogi Central remains vacant.
