Blocked at the Gates: Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Condemns Senate's Actions, Vows to Seek Appellate Clarification

 

Tensions surrounding the controversial suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan escalated on Tuesday as the Kogi Central lawmaker attempted to resume legislative duties, only to be denied access to the National Assembly Complex. The embattled senator, currently in a legal battle over her suspension, labeled the process as not only unlawful but also fundamentally fraudulent.

Despite a heavy downpour and a formidable security presence, Akpoti-Uduaghan made her way on foot to the National Assembly premises. The senator, joined by prominent activist Aisha Yesufu and a crowd of loyal supporters, parked her vehicle at a distance and walked through the MOPOL gate, determined to take her seat. However, she was met with resistance from security personnel stationed at the complex, preventing her entry.

Addressing journalists in Abuja shortly after being turned back, Akpoti-Uduaghan criticized the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, accusing him of orchestrating her continued exclusion from the legislative chamber. She described the entire suspension procedure as lacking in legal merit and transparency, asserting that the documentation used to justify her removal was riddled with irregularities.

According to her, the document that supposedly outlined the decision to suspend her was nothing more than a repurposed attendance sheet, lacking the proper authentication of committee member signatures. She emphasized that what was being presented as a resolution was neither formally endorsed nor supported by adequate procedural backing.

Akpoti-Uduaghan further clarified the current status of the legal proceedings surrounding her suspension. She explained that the appeal referenced by the Senate pertained to a contempt charge stemming from a satirical social media post, not the actual judgment overturning her suspension. As far as she is concerned, that portion of the court’s decision remains valid, and she should be allowed to return to the Senate.

She remarked, “Even the suspension, from the beginning, was fraudulent. The document that recommended my suspension wasn’t attested to by committee members. It was simply a photocopy of an attendance sheet that they tried to pass off as official signatures.”

While engaging with the press, Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed frustration over what she sees as a deliberate attempt to silence her voice in the Senate chamber. “There is no legal basis preventing me from resuming today. The court judgment stands, and only the contempt aspect is under appeal. That has nothing to do with the original matter of my suspension,” she stated.

The senator lamented the timing of the standoff, highlighting that the National Assembly is expected to begin a two-month recess as early as Wednesday. She argued that if the impasse is not resolved immediately, she may effectively end up serving the full six-month suspension by default, despite a court ruling in her favor.

“This is not just about me. It is about the sanctity of the rule of law. If a court has ruled that I am no longer suspended, then I should be allowed to work,” she said. “Dragging this matter out until the recess ends in September is a way to defeat justice through delay.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan announced plans to take the matter to the appellate court for clarification and resolution of the growing legal confusion. She reaffirmed her commitment to due process and insisted that her attempts to return to duty were not a publicity stunt but a legitimate assertion of her rights as an elected senator.

Observers are watching closely as the situation unfolds, particularly given the broader implications for legislative independence, political accountability, and judicial authority. Critics of the suspension argue that the case is a test of how far political institutions in Nigeria are willing to go to enforce internal discipline, even when such actions appear to contradict judicial rulings.

Meanwhile, supporters of Akpoti-Uduaghan remain vocal, rallying behind her and calling for immediate compliance with the court’s decision. The coming weeks are likely to see heightened legal and political drama as the appellate process moves forward and the Senate faces growing pressure to explain its position.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s battle has now become a larger symbol of resistance against perceived institutional overreach. Her persistence in challenging the Senate’s actions signals a readiness to confront not just the political establishment, but also what she believes to be systemic flaws within Nigeria’s legislative processes.