Akpabio Breaks Silence on Senator Natasha’s Suspension, Suggests Resolution Path

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has finally spoken on the controversy surrounding the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, offering what he describes as a straightforward route that could have resolved the matter without public drama.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, was suspended from the Senate in March 2025 over allegations of misconduct. Since then, she has made two unsuccessful attempts to return to plenary, citing a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja which she claims invalidated her suspension.

However, a statement released on Monday by Akpabio’s media aide, Kenny Okolugbo, challenged that assertion. He explained that while the court considered the suspension “excessive” and possibly beyond the scope of Section 63 of the Constitution, it did not explicitly overturn the Senate’s decision. Okolugbo pointed to Ground 23 of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s appeal in the suit *Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan v. Clerk of the National Assembly & Ors*, noting that the court stopped short of ordering her reinstatement.

“This clearly shows that her claim of being reinstated by the court is misleading,” Okolugbo said.

He further revealed that the Senate leadership had been open to lifting the suspension if Akpoti-Uduaghan had issued a public apology. According to him, even the Brekete Family, a popular citizens’ mediation group, had advised her to do so, but she refused.

Okolugbo also criticised the senator’s most recent attempt to re-enter the Senate chambers on July 22, describing it as a “media stunt.” He said she arrived with a crowd of supporters and media crews, likening the scene to a political spectacle rather than a legislative return. “The Senate is not a reality TV stage. There are rules that guide its operation,” he stated.

He emphasised that the Senate had not received any official court order compelling her reinstatement and would have acted accordingly had such communication been received through the appropriate legal channels. He added that the suspension was not based on politics or gender, but was exercised under the powers granted by Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution and the Senate’s Standing Orders.

Despite her suspension, Okolugbo said that legislative efforts for Kogi Central had not been abandoned. He cited ongoing progress on some of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s proposed bills, including one to establish a Federal Medical Centre in Ihima.

Concluding the statement, Okolugbo warned that politicising the issue could undermine the credibility of women in Nigerian politics. “There are only four female senators in the entire country. Weaponising gender and twisting the truth for political advantage sets back the fight for representation,” he said.