By Abbanobi -Eku Onyekachi
Abuja
What looks like constitutional standoff erupted at the National Assembly on Tuesday when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, was denied entry into the Senate chambers despite a valid court order said to have mandated her reinstatement.
The senator, accompanied by activist Aisha Yesufu, her legal team, and supporters, arrived at the Senate complex, only to be barred from accessing the chamber by security personnel. Akpoti-Uduaghan described the incident as “a direct affront to the rule of law and a blatant defiance of a binding judicial decision”.
A Federal High Court ruling on July 4, 2025, was said to have declared Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension unconstitutional and excessive, mandating her immediate reinstatement, a judgement Senator Akpabio was said to have appealed against, but Akpoti-Uduaghan clarified that the appeal was in his personal capacity, not on behalf of the National Assembly or the Senate.
Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of placing himself above the Nigerian Constitution, citing Sections 287 and 318 of the 1999 Constitution, which emphasize the binding nature of court decisions, even as she announced plans to consult with her legal team and approach the appellate court for further interpretation and redress.
The senator emphasized her mandate from the people of Kogi Central and INEC, stating, “I am a duly elected senator, cleared by INEC and backed by the courts.” The incident has sparked concerns about the Senate’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and respecting judicial decisions.
