Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) yesterday resumed legislative duties after a six-month suspension, declaring that she has no apology to tender to anyone.
In a chat with journalists in her office, Natasha stated that if the unsealing of her office by the management of the National Assembly—particularly the Senate—was meant to compel her to apologise, then “the battle has just begun.”
“I feel happy and vindicated by having access to my office today for the resumption of legislative duties after six months of illegal and unjust suspension.”
She reacted to a newspaper report which claimed that the Senate met on Monday and allegedly mandated the Minority Leader to persuade her to apologise on December 7.
“If the report is true, it means the battle has just begun, because I have no apology to tender to anybody for a wrong done to me—not by me—to anyone or to the Senate.
“I’m actually worried about what kind of apology they expect from me. You can’t apologise for an injustice. May I remind the good people of Nigeria that the document that led to my illegal suspension—the recommendation made by the committee led by Senator Neda Imasuen—was actually written by the office of the Senate President. And the signatures that endorsed the recommendation were not willful signatures.
“It was merely an attendance sheet attached to the recommendation, which was then read and used to pronounce my suspension. That, to me, is fraud.
“This is just one illegality upon another, and I believe we must reject such things in Nigeria. So, if they are expecting me to apologise—and if that is the condition for reopening this office—then I think we have a long way to go.”
Senator Natasha added that democratic institutions must be tested in order not to succumb to injustice, stating: “No one is more Nigerian than I or anyone else.”
She also took aim at the Senate President, saying “Akpabio is not more of a Senator than I am. He is not the governor of this place and cannot treat me as if I’m one of his servants or a domestic staff in his house.”
However, she expressed appreciation to Nigerians, especially political leaders and civil society figures, who stood by her during the difficult period.
“From the unjust suspension to surviving the recall attempts, we survived the blockage of roads and waterways into Kogi—so much so that we had to fly in using a helicopter. We survived the blackmail from the so-called woman or lady.
“I give Almighty God the glory and express my deepest appreciation to the good people of Kogi Central and Nigerians at large—my husband, my children, Mama Oby Ezekwesili, Aunty Aisha Yesufu, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Senator Bukola Saraki, Femi Falana, my beloved party PDP, the Labour Party, ADC, and of course, the media. I thank you all.”
Prior to her resumption, Mr. Alabi Adedeji, a Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms, officially unsealed her office—Room 2.05 in the Senate Wing—at exactly 10:00 a.m.
Senator Natasha was suspended by the Senate on March 6, 2025, following a recommendation from the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen (Edo South).
The committee found her guilty of unruly behaviour on the Senate floor on February 20, 2025, during a protest against seat reallocation ordered by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
