“Tuesday, We March Back to the Senate!” — Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Declares

Amid cheers and chants of victory, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has vowed to resume her legislative duties at the Senate this Tuesday, following a landmark ruling that overturned her controversial suspension.

The Senator representing Kogi Central and Chair of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs made the announcement in a heartfelt address to her supporters, shortly after the Federal High Court in Abuja declared her six-month suspension unlawful.

“I’m grateful for your support. We’re victorious today, and by God’s grace, I will resume on Tuesday,” she said in a video that has since gone viral across social media platforms.

Justice Binta Nyako, who delivered the ruling last Friday, described the Senate’s action as excessive and unconstitutional, stating that it violated both Akpoti-Uduaghan’s fundamental rights and those of her constituents. The court ordered her immediate reinstatement.

However, the legal victory came with a reprimand. The court fined Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan ₦5 million for contempt, citing a satirical Facebook post in which she directed a mock apology at Senate President Godswill Akpabio — an act deemed in breach of a March 4 court order restricting public commentary on the matter.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension in March followed a tense Senate plenary where she accused Akpabio of sexual harassment — a claim that sparked heated reactions and culminated in her removal from legislative activities, prompting months of legal confrontation.

Now poised to reclaim her seat, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s reinstatement sets the stage for renewed political engagement and a reminder that the judiciary remains a crucial guardrail in Nigeria’s democratic process.