Natasha

The National Assembly has unsealed the office of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, located in Suite 2.05 of the Senate Wing.

A video posted on X by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) captured Deputy Director of the Sergeant-at-Arms, Alabi Adedeji, unlocking the office on behalf of the Senate on Tuesday.

The office had been under seal for six months.

“To unseal Senator Natasha Akpoti’s office, I, Alabi Adedeji, Deputy Director, Sergeant-at-Arms, hereby unseal the office,” he declared before opening the door.

The lawmaker was suspended by the Senate in March for six months over her protest against the reassignment of her seat by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on February 20.

The suspension also barred her from participating in all activities of the 10th Senate.

Although the suspension lapsed in September 2025, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was unable to resume her duties due to legal disputes and resistance from Senate leadership.

On July 4, the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that the suspension was excessive and unconstitutional.

Following this, the senator wrote to the upper chamber to notify it of her intention to resume duties, but the National Assembly turned down her request.

It remains unclear whether she will rejoin her colleagues when plenary resumes on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the lawmaker representing Kogi Central in the Red Chamber, has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of instructing former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to kill her.

She also alleged that the current governor, Usman Ododo, is complicit in the plot.

The revelation comes amidst a plot to recall her from the national assembly.

Last week, some constituents from Kogi Central submitted a recall petition against her to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The commission is expected to verify the signatures attached to the petition. According to INEC regulations, the recall process requires more than half of the registered voters in the senatorial district to sign the petition. If this threshold is met, a referendum must be conducted within 90 days.

Under INEC’s recall guidelines, if the petition garners sufficient support, the commission will issue a public notice specifying the time, date, and location of the referendum.

Given the complexity and cost of a recall process, political analysts suggest that the move to unseat Akpoti-Uduaghan may be politically motivated and backed by influential figures.

The recall effort follows a series of controversies involving the senator, who was suspended from the Senate on March 6 for alleged “gross misconduct” after a dispute with Senate President Akpabio.

Addressing her supporters during a rally in her hometown of Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area, Kogi State, on Wednesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said the attempt to recall her was plotted by Akpabio in connivance with other leaders in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

She said, “Let me say this now. On the 14th of March at 10:30 p.m.—mind you, two days before that, on the 12th—Akpabio spoke to Governor Ododo to recall me. But he told him it would be impossible because the masses are with her, the people are with her. But Akpabio was not satisfied.

“He then called for Yahaya Bello. And it was actually Senator Asuquo (Asuquo Ekpenyong, Cross River South) from Cross River who drove Yahaya Bello from Hilton Hotel. I was informed of everything. And when I got to know—hold on. The meeting was in two parts. He told him to commence my recall and that he was going to fund it. Of course, money changed hands that night.

“The second thing he told him was that he should try and kill me. I didn’t make this public, but I wrote to the IG of Police. And Akpabio told Yahaya Bello—I am standing on what I’ve said. He told him that he should make sure that killing me does not happen in Abuja, that it should be done here so it will seem as if it’s the people that killed me here. I didn’t make that public, but we did notify the security agencies of that.”

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi ‘Central) has urged the public to ignore the viral report claiming that she apologised to the Senate.

Natasha in a statement on Monday titled, “Re-purported apology to the Senate over my sexual allegations claim against Senate President Godswill Akpabio”, said, “I, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, stand firm in my resolve to never apologise for speaking my truth.”

She also said her six-month suspension is a “clear case of political victimisation”, but stressed that she would not be deterred.

Natasha was suspended by the Senate for six months recently for alleged gross misconduct, days after a face-off with Akpabio over a change of sitting arrangement in the chambers during plenary.

She consequently, accused Akpabio of making sexual advances at her and later petitioned the United Nations over the issue.

The Kogi Senator in the statement said, “I will continue to fight for the rights of Nigerian women and ensure that our voices are heard.

“The desperation to silence me is palpable, but I will not be intimidated. The games being played in full view of the Nigerian people will be exposed, and the corrupt individuals who have hijacked our institutions will be held accountable.

“As a senator, I have a duty to represent my constituents and uphold the principles of justice and transparency. My allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio were not made lightly, and I will continue to seek justice and accountability, no matter the cost.

“I urge the public to ignore the viral report claiming that I apologised to the Senate, as it is entirely false. I will continue to stand by my truth and fight for what is right, even in the face of adversity.”