Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has addressed the public on why she has chosen to delay her return to the Senate despite a recent court ruling that declared her suspension from legislative duties unconstitutional.
Speaking during an interview with African Independent Television (AIT) on Tuesday, the senator said her decision was based on legal advice and a deep respect for institutional protocol. She emphasized that she would wait for the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the court’s judgment before taking any action regarding her return to plenary sessions.
While the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional,” the Senate’s legal counsel, Paul Daudu, SAN, in a counter-opinion dated July 5, argued that the judgment carried no explicit directive compelling the Senate to reinstate her.
Acknowledging the legal back-and-forth, Akpoti-Uduaghan said, “I believe in the judiciary. I’m not giving up.” She described her decision not to return immediately as a responsible step, noting that it allows the legal process to run its full course without confrontation.
The senator also used the interview to reaffirm her commitment to her constituents in Kogi Central. “I remained active throughout,” she said, detailing projects she has continued to pursue despite being barred from the chamber.
Among those initiatives are the installation of solar-powered streetlights, the groundbreaking of smart markets across several local government areas, and the recent distribution of laptops to students of Meseta Memorial College. She added that legislative efforts such as the gold bill, lithium policy development, and red mineral regulation remain part of her personal legislative agenda and cannot be handed off casually.
Despite the court ruling in her favour, tension surrounded the Senate complex on Tuesday after she had earlier announced plans to resume. Security presence was heightened, and several vehicles were stopped and searched, highlighting the political weight and public interest surrounding her case.
For Akpoti-Uduaghan, the issue goes beyond personal or political ambition. She drew attention to the larger implications of her exclusion, saying, “By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central—it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight.”
She reiterated her belief in the judicial process and her commitment to service, making it clear that her focus remains on advocating for her people and ensuring that democratic institutions remain accountable.
“I believe in the judiciary,” she said again. “I’m not giving up.”
