Akpabio Absent As Natasha Returns To Senate

The embattled Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has returned to the Senate after a six-month suspension.

Naija News reports that the Senate resumed plenary on Tuesday after a 10-week recess, with Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, presiding over the session as the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, was conspicuously absent at the time of resumption.

According to Channels Television, despite Akpabio’s absence, the plenary saw a significant turnout of senators, signalling a full return to legislative activities.

While Natasha was reportedly seen at the Senate chambers, other senators arrived dressed in Palestinian colours and attire, a show of international solidarity advocating for a free Palestine.

The Kogi lawmaker’s troubles began on February 20 when she protested against the reassignment of her seat by Akpabio.

She was suspended on March 6 for alleged misconduct, with her office in Suite 2.05 of the Senate Wing sealed off by the Sergeant-at-Arms.

Although her suspension lapsed in September, she was unable to return due to legal tussles and opposition from Senate leadership.

Speaking after her office at the National Assembly was unsealed on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, she stated that she would not offer an apology for her actions.

She said, “It is actually amazing how much we have had to pay in the past six months, from the unjust suspension to the recall. But we survived the recall, blackmail and that crazy lady on Facebook.

“In everything, sometimes it is good to push the institution to the test. We can’t cower in the face of injustice. No one is more Nigerian than us. Senator Akpabio is not more of a senator than I am.

“He is not the governor of this place, yet he treated me as if I were a servant or domestic staff in his house. It is so unfortunate that we will have a National Assembly being run by such a dictator. It is totally unacceptable.”