NATASHA AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN CITES LEGAL COUNSEL FOR SENATE DELAY

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has broken her silence on why she has not yet resumed her senatorial duties despite a recent Federal High Court ruling that nullified her suspension from the Senate. In a televised interview on African Independent Television (AIT) on Tuesday, July 8, the embattled lawmaker revealed that her decision to hold off on returning to plenary is guided by legal advice and her respect for institutional protocols.
“I believe in the judiciary, I’m not giving up,” she said, affirming her unwavering faith in the rule of law. She added that she was awaiting the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment before taking further steps. While the court had ruled her six-month suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional,” a counter-opinion by Senate legal counsel, Paul Daudu, SAN, has argued that the ruling did not include a direct or enforceable reinstatement order, complicating her immediate return.
Despite not being in plenary, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan noted she has remained active in serving her constituents. “These are personal initiatives—I was hoping to finish the gold bill and move on to others like lithium and red mineral legislation. I can’t simply hand them over to others,” she said, highlighting ongoing work on critical mineral legislation.
She also pointed to recent constituency projects she’s undertaken, including the installation of solar-powered streetlights, the groundbreaking of “smart markets” across several LGAs, and the distribution of laptops to students of Meseta Memorial College. These, she said, were evidence of her continued engagement with the needs of Kogi Central, even outside the Senate floor.
Tensions rose on Tuesday July 8th following her earlier declaration to resume plenary duties, with heightened security and vehicle checks reported around the National Assembly complex. Observers said the scene reflected the politically charged atmosphere surrounding her case.
Beyond her personal legal battle, Akpoti-Uduaghan decried the broader democratic cost of her continued exclusion. “By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central—it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
As the standoff over her reinstatement continues, she reiterated her determination to see the legal process through. “I believe in the judiciary, I’m not giving up,” she declared once again.