‘Akpabio Not More A Senator Than I Am’, Natasha Declares On Resumption

The lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has declared that the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio is not more of a senator than she is.

Addressing newsmen shortly after gaining access to her office at Suite 2.05 in the Senate Wing, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan remained defiant, insisting that she would not tender any apology over her suspension.

LEADERSHIP reports that the senator resumed duties on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, just hours after her office was unsealed inside the Senate Complex.

“Senate President Akpabio is not more of a senator than I am,” she said firmly. “We can’t calm down in the face of injustice in Nigeria. No one is more Nigerian than another, and sometimes it’s good to put institutions to the test.”

“He is not a governor of this place and he treated me as if I was his servant or a domestic staff in his house. It is very unfortunate that at this time, after so many years of democracy, we still have a National Assembly being run by such dictatorship, it is totally unacceptable,” Natasha said.

“It is actually amazing how much we have survived in the past six months and most of it happened to the full glare of Nigerians. From the unjust suspension to the recall. We survived recall,” she said.

The lawmaker appreciated God, the people of Kogi Central and Nigerians for their steadfast support during the period of her suspension from the Upper legislative chamber.

Recall that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the Red Chamber on March 6, 2025, following a heated dispute over her reassigned seat and allegations of misconduct.

The suspension, which was to last six months, barred her from participating in plenary sessions and denied her access to office facilities.

In July, the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that the suspension was “excessive and unconstitutional,” but she was unable to resume duties immediately as the Senate leadership resisted implementing the judgment.

The unsealing of her office by the National Assembly Sergeant-at-Arms on Tuesday marked a turning point, clearing the path for her return ahead of the Senate’s October 7 plenary resumption.