Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Resumes Duties Amid Fiery Clash with Akpabio

In a dramatic return to the National Assembly, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, resumed her legislative duties after a grueling six-month suspension, wasting no time in launching a blistering attack on Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The unsealing of her office in Suite 2.05 of the Senate Wing marked the end of a contentious chapter that began with allegations of misconduct and escalated into a high-stakes legal and political showdown. Flanked by jubilant supporters who cheered her arrival, the senator addressed journalists in her newly accessible office, declaring the ordeal a “period of survival” and vowing to redouble her commitment to her constituents.

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s resumption comes on the heels of a federal high court ruling that challenged the Senate’s authority to enforce her suspension, stemming from a February protest over the reassignment of her seating position in the chamber. The senator, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, described the past months as a barrage of intimidation, including road blockades, blackmail campaigns, and denial of access to parliamentary privileges. “From the unjust suspension to the recall attempts, we survived it all,” she said, crediting her resilience to divine intervention and the unwavering support of Kogi Central’s people and her family and supporters all around the globe. Her return was facilitated by the Deputy Director of the Chamber’s Sergeant-at-Arms, Alabo Adedeji, who personally oversaw the unsealing, signaling a reluctant capitulation by Senate leadership amid ongoing appeals.

The highlight of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s comeback was her unfiltered condemnation of Akpabio, whom she branded a “dictator” for allegedly running the National Assembly like a personal establishment. “Senator Akpabio is not more of a senator than I am; he is not the governor of this place, yet he treated me as if I were a servant or domestic staff in his house,” she fumed, her voice steady but laced with indignation.

The remarks, captured on video and quickly going viral on social media, echoed her earlier accusations of sexual harassment against the Senate President, which he has vehemently denied as baseless and politically motivated. Akpoti-Uduaghan insisted her suspension was retaliation for rejecting advances and standing firm against perceived abuses of power, framing it as a broader assault on democratic norms. “It’s very unfortunate that after so many years of democracy, we will have a National Assembly being run by such a dictatorship” she added, refusing to tender any apology for her past actions.The exchange has ignited fresh tensions within the 10th Senate, where Akpabio’s leadership has long faced whispers of high-handedness from critics.

Efforts to reach the Senate President’s office for comment were unsuccessful by press time, but allies of Akpabio have dismissed the senator’s claims as a desperate bid for relevance amid pending court cases. Political analysts warn that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s bold stance could rally opposition voices but risks further isolation in a chamber already polarized by partisan lines.