Politics

Senate Set to Debate Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Suspension Controversy Tuesday

Published by Tope Fakinlede on July 14th, 2025.

Senate Set to Debate Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Suspension Controversy Tuesday

The Senate is expected to deliberate on Tuesday over the legal and constitutional implications of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension and the recent court ruling challenging it. The PDP senator representing Kogi Central is at the center of a legal-political standoff following a Federal High Court ruling that declared her six-month suspension unlawful.

The controversy deepened after Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, through her legal representatives at M.J. Numa & Partners LLP, formally notified Senate leadership of the July 4, 2025, ruling by Justice Binta Nyako. In a letter dated July 11, she demanded to be reinstated immediately, arguing that her suspension violates Section 63 of the 1999 Constitution and deprives her constituents of their right to representation.

Based on the court’s pronouncement, Akpoti-Uduaghan has indicated her intention to resume her legislative duties on Tuesday, July 15, asserting that the ruling is clear and should be upheld.

However, the Senate appears divided on the interpretation of the judgment. Speaking on behalf of the upper chamber, Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu pushed back against her position, asserting that the judgment did not contain a binding directive requiring her immediate reinstatement.

According to Adaramodu, the court’s decision only offered “advisory comments” regarding the duration of the suspension and did not issue a declarative or injunctive order mandating the senator’s recall.

“The Certified True Copy of the ruling affirms the Senate’s right to discipline its members under Section 60 of the Constitution,” Adaramodu said. “The court did not invalidate this authority, nor did it instruct the Senate to reinstate Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.”

Tuesday’s debate is shaping up to be a significant moment, potentially testing the limits of legislative authority versus judicial oversight. Legal experts and political observers alike are watching closely, seeing this as a key moment in defining how far parliamentary disciplinary powers can go without infringing on constitutionally protected representation.