Embattled senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has alleged that her suspension from the Nigerian Senate on March 6 was the result of a calculated and politically driven agenda.
In an interview with Adeola Fayehun on her YouTube channel, released on Saturday, May 31, 2025, Senator Natasha stated that her rights as a legislator were violated and accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of acting beyond his constitutional powers.
“The impression being circulated is that I caused a scene over my seat. That is false. I raised a matter of privilege under Chapter 4, Item 9b of the Senate Rules—a provision that demands immediate attention. But the Senate President cut me off, ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove me, and directed the Clerk to begin preparing my suspension letter. That wasn’t a reaction; it was a pre-written script,” she said.
According to her, the conflict deepened after she refused to comply with what she described as the Senate President’s “demands.” She added, “He has no authority to unilaterally suspend any senator on the floor. The way he handled it—like I was a staff member in his living room—was not only unlawful but also degrading. My reaction was in response to a decision he had clearly already made.”
Senator Natasha further revealed that her suspension came barely 24 hours after she submitted a formal petition against the Senate leadership. “I believe my suspension was retaliatory. The ethics report they cited was merely a smokescreen. I had submitted allegations that shook the system, and the next day, I was silenced,” she alleged.
What you should know
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has challenged the legality of her suspension from the Senate, alleging it was politically motivated and in retaliation for her petition against the leadership. Her claims spotlight growing tensions within Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber.
