The Peoples Democratic Party and several Senior Advocates of Nigeria condemned the Senate’s decision to bar Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming when the upper chamber reconvenes on September 23.
In a letter dated September 4, the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Dr Yahaya Danzaria, formally notified Akpoti-Uduaghan that her six-month suspension imposed on March 6 remains in force until the Court of Appeal delivers judgment in her suit against the Senate.
“The matter remains sub judice, and until the judicial process is concluded, no administrative action can be taken to facilitate your resumption. You will be duly notified of the Senate decision on the matter as soon as it is resolved,” the letter stated.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on March 6 after the Senate adopted the report of its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, which accused her of insubordination for refusing to vacate her assigned seat during plenary.
The decision stripped her of salaries, aides and office privileges.
The senator has consistently maintained that her suspension was politically motivated, linking it to a petition she filed accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment—an allegation the Senate dismissed. She challenged the action in court, announcing in April that she had secured judgment in her favour.
In Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan v. Clerk of the National Assembly & Ors (FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025), Hon. Justice Binta Nyako, though declining jurisdiction on separation of powers, cautioned against excessive suspensions, noting that a six-month suspension, half a legislative year, undermines constitutional representation.
