Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central has revealed that she has postponed her planned return to the Senate in adherence to legal counsel and due process, despite a recent court ruling that nullified her suspension
Speaking in an interview with African Independent Television (AIT), the lawmaker explained that she would wait for the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the court judgment before taking any further steps.
“I believe in the judiciary. I’m not giving up,” she said.
Defending her engagement during her suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan stated that she remained active by providing democratic dividends to her constituents. These included progress on her Gold Reserve Bill, installation of solar-powered streetlights, distribution of laptops to students at Meseta Memorial College, and the groundbreaking of smart markets across local governments.
“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 to others,” she noted.
Tensions flared at the National Assembly earlier when she initially announced her intention to resume legislative duties. The complex witnessed an unusual presence of security personnel, with thorough searches conducted on vehicles entering and exiting the premises.
Though the court ruled her suspension as unconstitutional and excessive, a legal opinion dated July 5 by Senate counsel Paul Daudu, SAN, claimed the ruling did not include a direct order compelling the Senate to reinstate her.
Lamenting her continued exclusion, Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasized the broader implications for democracy and gender representation. “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.”
Despite the ongoing legal and political uncertainty, she reaffirmed her commitment to serve. “I remain determined to fulfill my legislative duties and to advance the development of not just Kogi Central but Nigeria as a whole,” she said.
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Person wey dey deceive herself about resumption