On Tuesday, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central returned to the Senate after a six-month suspension. The upper chamber resumed plenary after a 10-week break, with Senate President Godswill Akpabio presiding.
Akpoti-Uduaghan appeared cheerful as she exchanged greetings with colleagues. Activist Aisha Yesufu joined supporters in the gallery to witness her return, though security restricted some others from entering.
With her reinstatement, the suspension that stirred national debate earlier this year officially ended. The Senate had suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in March 2025 for alleged misconduct during her protest against Akpabio’s decision to reassign her seat on February 20.
Her office in the Senate Wing, Suite 2.05, remained locked from March 6, 2025, until Sergeant-at-Arms Alabi Adedeji, Deputy Director of the National Assembly, reopened it recently.
The action allowed the lawmaker to resume her legislative duties fully.
When Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan regained access to her post two weeks ago, she described Akpabio as a “dictator.”
Despite the earlier tension, Tuesday’s plenary recorded a strong turnout of lawmakers, signaling a full return to legislative business.
