Supporters storm National Assembly to celebrate Natasha’s office reopening

A large crowd of supporters loyal to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan gathered on Tuesday to celebrate the reopening of her office at the National Assembly.

The group, chanting solidarity songs, marched toward the Assembly complex in jubilation after the Senate’s sergeant-at-arms officially unsealed the Kogi Central lawmaker’s office earlier in the day.

Before the march, the supporters had accompanied Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, where she appeared in an ongoing defamation case filed against her by the Federal Government.

The suit was instituted on behalf of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.

Channels Television reports that the National Assembly has unsealed the office of the Senator representing Kogi Central, located in Suite 2.05 of the Senate Wing, earlier on Tuesday.

The office was unsealed by the Deputy Director of the Sergeant-at-Arms, Alabi Adedeji, potentially paving the way for the Kogi Central Senator to return to the Red Chamber when plenary resumes on October 7, 2025.

The office had remained locked for six months, following Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension by the Senate in March over alleged violations of its standing rules.

Her suspension had sparked widespread reactions, with many, particularly civil society organisations and opposition politicians, condemning the Senate’s action.

She approached the court in July over the matter and made an unsuccessful attempt to resume sitting.

While the matter is still in court, the Kogi Senator served out her six months suspension this September and declared her intention to return to her duty.

On completing her suspension about two weeks ago, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan wrote to the Senate, informing it of her intention to resume.

However, the lawmakers, while acknowledging her letter, said they would not take action on it until the end of the court process.

“The matter remains sub judice, and until the judicial process is concluded, no administrative action can be taken to facilitate your resumption,” a reply by the Senate read in part.

The Senate maintained that her six-month suspension, which began on 6 March 2025, would only be reviewed after the Court of Appeal’s decision.

(Channels)