Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan Set to Return as Senate Unseals Office

After months of legal and political wrangling, signs emerged on Tuesday that the impasse between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio may be nearing resolution. Security personnel and the Sergeant-at-Arms of the National Assembly unsealed the Kogi Central senator’s office, signaling a possible return to the Red Chamber as the Senate resumes on October 7.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, suspended in March 2025 over alleged misconduct during a heated protest in plenary, had faced persistent opposition from the Senate leadership even after her six-month suspension ended in September. Her attempted return was blocked pending a Court of Appeal decision on the legality of her suspension one earlier deemed excessive and unconstitutional by a Federal High Court judge.

Behind the scenes, however, negotiations appear to have advanced. Sources revealed that Senate leaders may allow her return after a formal apology, expected to be moved by Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro during the next plenary. The move to reopen her office ahead of the session is seen as a significant step toward reconciliation.

The National Assembly had previously insisted that only the Senate, not its administrative arm, could determine her resumption. Now, with her office unsealed and political compromise on the horizon, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan looks likely to rejoin legislative activities pending final Senate approval.