- Safiu Kehinde
The National Assembly’s unsealing of the office of Kogi state lawmaker, Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has sparked wild jubilation among her mammoth crowd of supporters who stormed the Assembly complex alongside the lawmaker on Tuesday.
NPO earlier Reported that the National Assembly’s Deputy Director of the Sergeant at Arms, Alabi Adedeji, formally declared the lawmaker’s office unsealed, marking an end to her six-month suspension.
The legislative chamber had initially 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 had 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 held 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 unsealing of the lawmaker’s office today saw supporters trooped to the National Assembly complex with a video shared on X showing a visibly excited Natasha marching along the crowd as she assumes office.
The lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District could be heard affirming her return as the supporters showered encomium on her with chants.
While Natasha was allowed in, the crowd would however be restricted from gaining access into the Assembly complex by security operatives.