Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Vows Return to Senate This Week Following Court Ruling Amid Leadership Tensions

 

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has officially declared her readiness to return to her legislative seat representing Kogi Central at the Nigerian Senate next Tuesday, July 22. This announcement follows a court decision which, according to her, validates her reinstatement and contradicts the grounds of her earlier suspension.

Her declaration comes at a critical political moment, given that Senate President Godswill Akpabio has already filed an appeal against the ruling. Despite that appeal, Akpoti-Uduaghan maintains that the judgment grants her the right to resume, not merely as a matter of court order, but as a legitimate judicial decision. Her statement has stirred significant attention in political circles, with legal observers and political analysts closely monitoring how the leadership of the Senate will respond.

During an interview with Channels Television, the senator explained that she has notified the Senate of her decision via an official letter. “I have pretty much two months more before the six months expire. However, I have written to the Senate again telling them that I’m resuming on the 22nd, which is on Tuesday, by the special grace of God,” she revealed.

She stressed that her return is not optional but a rightful claim upheld by the judiciary. “I will be there, because the court did make the decision on that. Now, they argue that it’s an order. It’s not an order; it is a decision,” she emphasized, drawing a clear line between the interpretation of judicial pronouncements and the political posture being taken by Senate leadership.

Since her suspension from the Red Chamber, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has voiced deep concerns about how the move affected her role as a lawmaker. The inability to introduce bills or sponsor motions has, in her view, obstructed the democratic representation her constituents deserve. This, she noted, has also weakened the participatory strength of her district in national discourse.

Legal experts have pointed out that her return, pending the outcome of Akpabio’s appeal, places the Senate in a delicate situation. Should the leadership choose to resist her resumption, it may be seen as defiance against the judiciary. Conversely, allowing her back could be perceived as a weakening of the internal authority of the Senate President, especially if the appeal eventually succeeds.

Political analysts believe that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s case is rapidly evolving into a broader test of legislative independence, judicial authority, and internal cohesion within the National Assembly. For some observers, the battle highlights an emerging divide within the Senate, where party loyalty, gender dynamics, and regional influence are becoming entangled in the larger political narrative.

While the Senator’s return would mark a victory for her and her supporters, it may also trigger procedural or legal challenges on the floor of the Senate. Already, speculation is mounting over whether she will be granted access without resistance, and what role the judicial system will continue to play in ensuring compliance with its rulings.

Constituents from Kogi Central have expressed their support, with many describing her suspension as politically motivated. Advocacy groups and civil society organizations have also weighed in, suggesting that any attempt to prevent her from resuming her duties would constitute an affront to democratic principles and the rule of law.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s next steps will be closely watched. She has pledged to use the remainder of her time in the Senate, however limited, to push for the bills she had earlier planned and to raise motions that address pressing issues facing her district and the country at large.

Whether the Senate leadership allows her full reintegration or not, the events of next Tuesday may set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future. This situation, while centered on one senator, reflects deeper questions about how power is exercised within Nigeria’s political institutions and how far the courts can go in shaping legislative processes.

As Nigeria’s legislative landscape braces for what could become a significant flashpoint, many eyes will be fixed on the Senate floor this coming Tuesday to witness the return of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan or to observe what roadblocks may yet arise.