A political clash over a Nigerian senator’s suspension has intensified, with fresh claims revealing contradictions in her legal bid to return to legislative duties. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, suspended for six months by Nigeria’s Senate, has twice attempted to resume her seat, citing a Federal High Court judgment she claims invalidated the penalty. However, Kenny Okolugbo, an aide to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has countered that her own court filings contradict these assertions, escalating tensions in a case entangled with procedural disputes and accusations of media manipulation.
Central to the dispute is Ground 23 of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s appeal in Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan v. Clerk of the National Assembly & Ors, which argues that the Federal High Court failed to explicitly nullify her suspension despite criticizing its severity. Okolugbo highlighted this passage in a Monday statement, accusing the senator of misrepresenting the court’s findings. The document states the judge deemed her suspension “excessive” and “ultra vires” Nigeria’s Constitution but did not formally overturn it. “The honorable path would be to apologize, not weaponize a nonexistent ruling,” Okolugbo said.
He further criticized Akpoti-Uduaghan’s July 2025 attempt to enter the National Assembly with supporters and media crews as a “premeditated media stunt” risking public order. “There was no court order communicated to the Senate leadership for her reinstatement. This was a staged spectacle,” he asserted, emphasizing that Senate protocols would have required formal deliberations if a valid judgment existed.
The suspension, initiated in February 2025, followed alleged breaches of legislative conduct, which Okolugbo insisted adhered to constitutional procedures under Section 60 and Senate rules. He clarified that Akpabio’s involvement was procedural, not personal, and noted the Senate had offered to lift the suspension if she publicly apologized—a step reportedly advised by advocacy groups like the Brekete Family. Akpoti-Uduaghan has declined, maintaining her legal stance.
While Okolugbo claimed legislative work in her Kogi Central constituency progressed during her absence, including a bill to establish a federal medical center, he warned her actions risk undermining Nigeria’s fragile gains in gender representation. With only four women in the 109-member Senate, he argued, leveraging gender narratives while allegedly distorting facts could deter future female participation.
Media outlets also drew criticism for prioritizing sensationalism over accuracy. “Some journalists confessed to knowing the truth but chasing headlines,” Okolugbo said, adding that the release of Ground 23 exposed discrepancies in public claims. He left room for resolution, urging the senator to retract her statements and apologize to avoid further legal escalation.
The standoff underscores broader tensions between legislative authority, judicial interpretation, and political theatrics in Nigeria’s democracy, with implications for governance transparency and gender equity in public office.
