Why I delayed my resumption at the Senate — Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has explained her decision to postpone resuming her duties at the Senate, citing legal counsel and procedural respect following a court ruling that nullified her suspension.

In an interview with African Independent Television (AIT), Natasha said she opted to wait for the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment before making any official move, describing her choice as a matter of principle.

“Based on legal advice, I chose to await the CTC of the court ruling. It’s important to follow due process,” she stated.

Despite her absence from the Senate chambers, the lawmaker said she remained active in her constituency, engaging in development projects and continuing work on her legislative agenda, including the Gold Reserve Bill.

Among her recent constituency achievements, she highlighted the installation of solar-powered streetlights, the groundbreaking of smart markets across local governments, and the distribution of hundreds of laptops to students of Meseta Memorial College.

Her earlier announcement of plans to return to the Senate on Tuesday caused tension at the National Assembly, with increased security presence and thorough vehicle checks around the complex.

While a court deemed her suspension unconstitutional and excessive, a legal opinion by Senate counsel Paul Daudu, SAN, dated July 5, argued that the ruling did not explicitly compel the Senate to reinstate her.

Defending her continued advocacy during the suspension, Senator Natasha said, “I remained active throughout. These are personal initiatives—I was hoping to finish the Gold Bill and move on to others like lithium and red mineral legislation. I can’t simply hand them over.”

She further criticized her exclusion from Senate activities, describing it as a denial of representation for Kogi Central and a setback for gender inclusion in Nigerian politics.

“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central—it’s denying Nigerian women and children a voice. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.

Natasha reaffirmed her commitment to legislative service and national development, promising to fulfill her mandate regardless of the circumstances.

“I believe in the judiciary. I’m not giving up,” she concluded.