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As Akpabio Reaffirms Senate’s Stance on Discipline
- Safiu Kehinde
Kogi lawmaker, Sen, Natasha Akpoti-Udughan, has on Tuesday formally returned to the Senate as the Red Chamber resumes plenary after 10 weeks recess.
The plenary session marked Natasha first appearance in the hallowed chamber since her suspension in March 2025.
Recall that the Red Chamber had in March suspended the lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District over alleged misconduct after protesting and challenging Akpabio over the reassignment of her seat.
The drama would quickly escalate into sexual harassment scandal which lingered for months with litigations.
Meanwhile, ahead of her return, the Senate had late last month unsealed the lawmaker’s office following the expiration of her six months suspension.
The unsealing of the office was initially met with strong resistance from the National Assembly (NASS) which ruled out Natasha’s return despite the expiration of her six months suspension and her notification of the Senate about her resumption.
Despite confirming the Senate’s acknowledgement of Natasha’s notification of return, the National Assembly held that the Kogi lawmaker’s six-month suspension remains in force pending the outcome of a Court of Appeal case instituted against the Senate by Akpoti-Uduaghan.
It had maintained that no administrative action can be taken until the Court of Appeal delivers a verdict, arguing that her suspension took effect on March 6, 2025, and the matter is still subjudice.
However, the eventual unsealing of the office doused the tension as the lawmaker stormed the National Assembly alongside her teeming supporters.
Meanwhile, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, in his welcome address today, reassured Nigerians of the Senate’s openness to accountability.
He however reaffirmed the Red Chamber’s stance on discipline.
While the lawmaker had not made direct reference to Akpoti-Udughan, he warned those seeking to weaking the legislature to desist from such.
Akpabio reiterated the Senate’s pledge to remain open, accountable, and responsive.
“To all Nigerians, we in the 10th Senate, we hear you. We know your expectations. You ask us not for excuses but for results, not for noise but for substance.
“This Senate will continue to remain open, accountable, and responsive. We will not shrink from enforcing discipline or scrutiny.
“Accountability is the lifeblood of democracy. But it must be clearly understood that the foundation of every democracy is its legislature.
“Those who seek to weaken the legislature, in truth, seek to wreck the very structure of democracy itself.” He said.