The Senate has reopened the office of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, months after she was suspended from legislative duties.
On Tuesday, the Sergeant-at-Arms, supported by security operatives, unsealed her office at the National Assembly and granted her access to the premises once again.
This development comes just days before the Senate resumes plenary on October 7, 2025.
Sources within the National Assembly revealed that the decision followed a leadership meeting, where it was agreed that a motion would be moved to formalize her return. Part of the arrangement, however, may require the senator to tender an apology before she is fully reintegrated.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended in March 2025 for six months after a heated clash with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over the reassignment of her seat. The suspension barred her from all activities of the 10th Senate, and though the sanction officially expired in September, she still faced resistance in resuming her duties.
Earlier, the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Binta Nyako, had ruled that the suspension was “excessive and unconstitutional,” stressing that it denied her constituents proper representation. Despite the ruling, the Senate insisted that she must serve the full duration of her suspension before returning.
During the suspension period, Akpoti-Uduaghan pursued legal redress. Her lawyers also petitioned the National Assembly, warning of legal consequences if she was not reinstated. In response, the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamorudeen Ogunlana, maintained that his office lacked the authority to overturn Senate resolutions, noting that only the Senate itself could decide her fate.
With her office now reopened, attention shifts to the Senate floor, where her formal reintegration is expected to be addressed in the coming days.
