The Nigerian Senate has firmly rebuffed Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s attempt to resume legislative duties, describing her dramatic reentry effort as “skit making” and “content creation.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, appeared at the National Assembly complex on Tuesday, July 22, citing a court ruling which she claims nullified her six-month suspension. The court, she said, described the Senate’s disciplinary action as excessive and ordered her reinstatement.
However, her efforts to rejoin plenary were swiftly blocked, as security personnel denied her entry into the legislative chambers.
Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, publicly criticized the move, calling it a breach of procedure and an act of self-enforcement that undermines institutional order.
“We are lawmakers, not actors in a season film,” Adaramodu said. “This entire saga looks more like content creation than a constitutional process. Even if there is a court judgment, a litigant cannot enforce it by themselves. There are legal protocols and court bailiffs for that.”
He further emphasized that the Senate had not officially received or acknowledged any binding directive requiring Akpoti-Uduaghan’s reinstatement, warning against what he described as a growing culture of politicized theatrics.
“It’s unfortunate that a serious institution like the National Assembly is being dragged into what looks like another episode of online skit-making. Nigerians can see through this,” Adaramodu added.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the Senate in March 2025 after a public confrontation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio. She later alleged that the Senate President sexually harassed her, a claim that intensified the political fallout and drew national attention.
Tuesday’s attempted return reignited the political storm, drawing sharp reactions from legal experts and civil society groups.
While some sympathize with Akpoti-Uduaghan’s assertion of her constitutional rights, others stress the importance of respecting judicial procedures and institutional integrity.
Legal analysts note that if a court has indeed ruled in her favor, the proper route would involve the issuance of enforcement orders through the Attorney General’s office or court bailiffs—not an unsanctioned reappearance at the Senate.
