A fresh constitutional crisis is brewing within Nigeria’s National Assembly following the dramatic denial of entry to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan into the Senate chambers on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, was suspended from legislative duties for six months—a decision that was recently quashed by a Federal High Court ruling.
The court, in its judgment delivered on July 4, 2025, declared her suspension unlawful, unconstitutional, and excessive. The ruling further mandated her immediate reinstatement to the Senate.
Despite this clear judicial directive, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was obstructed from resuming her duties at the National Assembly, sparking outrage and raising serious questions about the Senate leadership’s compliance with the rule of law.
Speaking to journalists at the gates of the National Assembly after being barred, the embattled senator accused the Senate leadership, under Senate President Godswill Akpabio, of willfully disobeying the court order. She described the Senate’s action as a blatant defiance of the judiciary, declaring, “The Senate under Akpabio has now become lawbreakers.”
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan explained that she had given prior notice to the Senate leadership of her intention to resume work. She disclosed that she sent two separate letters to the Senate, formally notifying them of her decision to return on July 22, in compliance with the court ruling.
“I am a duly elected senator by the good people of Kogi Central, certified by INEC. Today, I simply came to resume my constitutional duties.
“It’s unfortunate that rather than being allowed entry, I was confronted by a heavy security presence—armed policemen in full gear—deployed against an unarmed female senator,” she lamented.
She expressed disappointment on two major grounds: first, the intimidation represented by the armed security personnel, and second, the flagrant disregard for the judiciary by the Senate’s leadership.
“I was disappointed not just by the show of force, but by the fact that the Senate, particularly under Akpabio’s leadership, has chosen to breach the law by obstructing my return to the chambers.”
Anticipating the Senate’s possible attempt to reinterpret or downplay the court ruling, Akpoti-Uduaghan clarified the constitutional implications of the judgment.
She referenced Section 318 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, explaining that a court’s decision is broadly defined and encompasses orders, sentences, convictions, recommendations, and decrees—not merely formal orders.
She further cited Section 287, Subsection 3 of the Constitution, which explicitly mandates that decisions of any court in Nigeria are binding on all authorities and persons, including the National Assembly. “Even if the ruling is termed a recommendation, it is still binding,” she asserted.
In a revealing twist, the senator displayed documents indicating that an appeal had indeed been filed against the court’s judgment. However, she clarified that it was not the Senate or the National Assembly that initiated the appeal, but rather Senate President Godswill Akpabio in his personal capacity.
“Let it be clear—this appeal is not from the National Assembly or the Senate as an institution. It is Senator Akpabio who filed it, even though he joined the National Assembly, the Senate, and the Ethics Committee as respondents,” she explained. This, she suggested, reveals an internal legal conflict within the Senate leadership.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan reaffirmed her determination to reclaim her seat and uphold the mandate given to her by her constituents.
She vowed to continue her legal and constitutional battle, insisting that no amount of intimidation or political maneuvering would suppress her legitimate rights as a senator.
The unfolding standoff now sets the stage for a potentially protracted constitutional and political battle, testing not only the Senate’s respect for the judiciary but also the resilience of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.