Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

In what appears to be a significant shift of position, the sealed office of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was officially reopened on Tuesday, in a development that could signal her imminent return to legislative duties after six months of controversy and legal wranglings.

The unsealing was supervised by Mr. Alabi Adedeji, a Deputy Director in the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms, accompanied by a team comprising National Assembly security operatives and other federal law enforcement personnel.

The office, Suite 2.05, located within the Senate Wing of the National Assembly Complex, had been under lock and key since the embattled senator’s suspension earlier this year.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was suspended for six months by the Senate over alleged breaches of its standing rules, a decision that drew sharp criticism from rights groups, political observers, and civil society organisations.

The Senate leadership at the time claimed she was guilty of “unparliamentary conduct,” though it failed to provide comprehensive details in the public domain, other than the accusation that she spoke from a seat not allocated to her.

Critics have long contended that her suspension was politically motivated, citing her rising influence, activism, and confrontations with powerful interests.

The suspension triggered a wave of protests and legal challenges. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), one of the country’s foremost workers’ unions, described the suspension as “unfair, undemocratic, and a dangerous precedent for Nigeria’s democracy.”

Similarly, Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, joined the calls for her reinstatement, warning that the Senate’s action eroded public trust in the legislature.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a suit at the Federal High Court challenging the legality of her suspension.

In a landmark ruling delivered last month, the court declared the suspension excessive, unlawful, and unconstitutional, stating that no legislative chamber has the power to unilaterally deny an elected representative the right to perform their constitutional duties without due process.

Despite this ruling, the Senate leadership had remained defiant, maintaining that the lawmaker could not resume without a fresh resolution from the floor or a further directive from the judiciary.

This legal ambiguity kept the senator in a limbo for weeks, unable to access her office or participate in Senate proceedings.

With the latest development, namely, the reopening of her office, it appears the Senate may be making a quiet retreat from its earlier hardline stance, even though there has been no official statement on whether she will be permitted to resume full plenary duties when the chamber reconvenes.

Compounding the intrigue surrounding the Senator’s case is the unexpected postponement of Senate plenary activities, originally scheduled to resume on Tuesday, September 23, 2025.

According to separate memos issued by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr. Kamoru Ogunlana, and the Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Mr. Chinedu Akubueze, plenary sessions have been postponed by two weeks and will now resume on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.

“Any inconvenience this short notice may cause is deeply regretted,” the notices read, while informing lawmakers that committee activities would continue during the recess period.

No specific reason was provided for the rescheduling, fueling speculation about internal tensions or strategic manoeuvring within the Senate leadership.

Political observers believe the decision may be linked to the controversy surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, as the Senate leadership may be seeking time to manage the fallout from the court ruling and public pressure.

A senior management staff of the National Assembly who spoke on conditions of anonymity said, “This delay may be a face-saving strategy. They needed time to quietly walk back their position without admitting fault or setting a precedent that could constrain their authority in future disciplinary matters.”

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has quickly become one of the most visible, and controversial, figures in Nigeria’s National Assembly.

A lawyer, social entrepreneur, and outspoken advocate for transparency and good governance, she rose to prominence after contesting the 2019 governorship election in Kogi State.

Though unsuccessful at the time, her profile soared, especially among youth and women voters.

In 2023, she was elected to the Senate in a keenly contested election that saw her defeat the incumbent from the All Progressives Congress (APC), despite widespread reports of electoral irregularities and intimidation.

Since taking office, Akpoti-Uduaghan has carved a niche for herself as a fiery debater and advocate for the underprivileged.

She often clashes with colleagues over issues such as gender equity, electoral reform, and public sector accountability.

Her critics accuse her of being too combative, while her supporters see her as a refreshing voice in an otherwise conservative legislature.

With her office now accessible and the Senate yet to publicly state its next course of action, attention will shift to whether she will be allowed to take her seat once plenary resumes in October.

Her legal team has insisted that she remains a duly elected lawmaker with all the rights and privileges that come with that status.

While the reopening of her office is a step forward, her full return to legislative activity may depend on behind-the-scenes negotiations and further legal interpretation.

For now, the unsealing of Suite 2.05 is being viewed as a quiet but significant victory for due process, and a test case for the limits of legislative immunity and internal discipline.

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