Senator Natasha resumes office after six months of suspension

Abdullateef Fowewe

Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, officially resumed her duties on Tuesday after her office was unsealed following a contentious six-month period marked by suspension, a recall attempt, and significant political challenges.

Speaking from her office, Senator Akpoti reflected on the difficult months behind her stressing, “It’s actually amazing how much we have had to face and survive in the past six months, and most of it happened with the full knowledge of Nigerians, from the unjust suspension to the recall.”

Video link# Senator Natasha resumes office after six months of suspension

She detailed some of the obstacles faced, saying, “We survived the recall. We survived the blockage of roads and waterways in Kogi that we had to fly through a helicopter, we have to survive the blackmail from the so-called woman the crazy lady on Facebook.”

Expressing gratitude, she praised the support she received, “I give God Almighty the glory and my deepest appreciation to the good people of Kogi Central, Kogi State and Nigeria at large, my husband, my love. In short, I pray all men support their wives as much as you have supported me and my children—thank you for your sacrifices.”

Senator Akpoti also criticised the Senate President, stating, “Senator Akpabio is not more of a senator than I am. He’s not a governor of this place. And he treated me as if I was his servant or I was a domestic staff in his house. It’s very unfortunate that we would have a National Assembly being run by such dictatorship. It’s totally unacceptable.”

Despite the suspension, she emphasised her commitment, “No day went by without me looking out for opportunities, either in terms of bringing infrastructure or projects to my people and even jobs wherever I could, because I didn’t want them to suffer, you know, the neglect and the vacuum that was created by this injustice.”

She acknowledged the broad support from individuals and organisations nationwide, “I thank people like aunty Oby Ezekwesili, sister Aisha, Mama P, Peter, many others, Dr Abiola, Yemi of Enough is Enough, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, His Excellency Saraki Labour Party and ADC my beloved PDP, Nigerian Bar Association, Nigeria Labour Congress… many people who’ve lent their voices.”

Concluding, she noted the impact of these voices on the political leadership, “I think that’s the pressure that the Senate President saw and realized that you know what he just can’t.”