The Nigerian Senate has dismissed Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s bid to return to legislative duties as nothing more than “content creation,” insisting that due process must be followed. Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, made this remark during an appearance on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme hosted by Seun Okinbaloye.
Adaramodu stated that the Senate is not swayed by Senator Natasha’s public attempts to resume her duties, despite a Federal High Court ruling that quashed her suspension. According to him, the court ruling did not explicitly mandate the Senate to reinstate her, and an appeal has already been filed. He accused the Kogi Central lawmaker of turning the issue into a media spectacle.
“The National Assembly cannot be part of the content creation going on by Senator Natasha,” Adaramodu said.
“We have nothing personal against her, but rules must be followed. The content creation has now prolonged into a seasonal film with episodes. We are not moved by her contents.”
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months earlier this year but had attempted to resume plenary following a court judgment by Justice Binta Nyako, which voided the suspension. However, she was denied entry into the National Assembly premises on Tuesday, prompting outrage and condemnation from her camp.
Speaking to journalists after being blocked from entering, the senator described the action as a flagrant contempt of court. She accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of acting above the law, arguing that her mandate was given by the people of Kogi Central, not the Senate leadership.
“Akpabio cannot be greater than the Nigerian Constitution,” she said.
“The fact that he has filed an appeal does not invalidate the decision of Justice Binta Nyako. That I’ve been denied entrance to the National Assembly is a statement being made—it’s on record. The National Assembly under Akpabio has chosen to be in contempt of a court decision.”
She also questioned the legality of her initial suspension, describing the process as “fraudulent” and riddled with procedural errors.
On her next move, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan announced plans to meet with her legal team to challenge the Senate’s continued resistance at the appellate court.
“I’m a law-abiding citizen. Going forward, I will meet with my legal team to seek interpretation into what just happened,” she said.
As of the time of filing this report, the Senate leadership has yet to issue an official statement addressing either the court ruling or Tuesday’s blockade of Senator Natasha.
