Tension flared at the National Assembly complex as security personnel prevented suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from entering the premises, despite her insistence that a recent court judgment supports her return to legislative duties.
All entry points to the assembly were locked down by security operatives ahead of the Senate’s resumed plenary session, effectively barring the senator—who represents Kogi Central—from accessing the chamber.
Arriving in a black vehicle, Akpoti-Uduaghan was stopped at the gate, but she stepped out defiantly and continued on foot toward the main entrance, flanked by a small group of supporters who cheered her on. Her attempted return follows a court ruling which, she argued, advised the Senate to consider lifting her suspension.
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Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended in March over what the Senate described as misconduct during plenary. The controversy surrounding her suspension escalated after she publicly accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment—an allegation Akpabio has firmly denied.
Despite citing the court’s decision, Senate leadership remains unmoved. In a statement released Sunday, Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu clarified that the court ruling was merely advisory in nature and did not compel the upper chamber to take any specific action regarding her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s presence at the gates of the National Assembly signals her determination to reclaim her seat, but also throws the spotlight back on the ongoing political and legal drama surrounding her suspension. Her supporters view the blockade as a silencing tactic, while Senate officials maintain they are operating within legal and procedural boundaries.
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