Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has reignited her feud with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, accusing him of running the National Assembly like a dictatorship and treating her as if she were his “domestic staff.” The senator resumed her duties on Tuesday after her office in Suite 2.05 of the Senate Wing was unsealed by Alabi Adedeji, Deputy Director of the National Assembly Sergeant-at-Arms.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who had been suspended in March 2025 for alleged violations of Senate rules following a clash with Akpabio, called her suspension “illegal and unjust.” She expressed no remorse, stating, “I have no apology to tender.” Addressing journalists, she described her ordeal as a test of resilience against injustice, recounting challenges including road and waterway blockages into Kogi, forcing her to use a helicopter, and surviving public blackmail.
“I give God Almighty the glory and my deepest appreciation to the good people of Kogi Central, Kogi State, and Nigeria,” she said, also thanking her husband and children for their support. She emphasized her commitment to her constituents, noting that despite the suspension, she continued working to deliver infrastructure and projects.
Akpoti-Uduaghan criticized Akpabio’s leadership, saying, “He’s not a governor of this place. It’s unfortunate that, after years of democracy, the National Assembly is run by such dictatorship.” She argued that her return highlights the need to challenge institutional injustices, asserting, “No one is more Nigerian than us.”
Background
The senator’s suspension in March 2025, following an altercation with Akpabio, drew widespread condemnation from civil society and opposition figures. She challenged the suspension in court in July but was initially unable to resume her duties. Although her six-month suspension ended in September 2025, the Senate refused to act on her request to return until the Court of Appeal rules on the matter, stating that the issue remains sub judice. The Senate’s response emphasized that no administrative action would be taken until the judicial process concludes.
