Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central in the National Assembly, has shed light on why she chose not to resume at the Senate on Tuesday, despite a recent court ruling that nullified her suspension. Speaking in an interview with African Independent Television (AIT), the Senator said her decision was guided by legal advice and her respect for due process, stressing that she preferred to wait for the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment before taking further steps.
Akpoti-Uduaghan defended her activities during the period of her suspension, pointing out that she remained engaged with her constituents and continued to deliver on various development projects. Among these were the installation of solar-powered streetlights, the launch of smart markets across local councils, and the distribution of hundreds of laptops to students of Meseta Memorial College. She also highlighted her progress on the Gold Reserve Bill, noting that she was eager to move on to legislative work on lithium and other mineral resources.
On Tuesday, the day she was initially expected to return, the National Assembly complex witnessed heightened security, with a noticeable increase in security personnel and thorough checks on vehicles entering the premises. This tension followed the court’s ruling, which had deemed her suspension excessive and unconstitutional. However, a legal opinion dated July 5 by Senate counsel Paul Daudu, SAN, argued that the judgment lacked a direct order compelling the Senate to reinstate her.
Expressing concern over her continued exclusion, Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that keeping her out of the chamber was not only a disservice to her constituents in Kogi Central but also a setback for female representation in the legislature. “We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she lamented. She reaffirmed her resolve to keep pushing for the development of her constituency and Nigeria at large, vowing to fulfill her mandate with or without access to the Senate floor. “I believe in the judiciary, I’m not giving up,” she declared.