Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, on Tuesday defied a heavy security blockade and arrived at the National Assembly complex on foot, accompanied by a crowd of supporters.
The lawmaker, whose suspension by the Senate is being contested in court, parked her vehicle outside the Assembly premises and walked through the main MOPOL gate in the company of activists including Aisha Yesufu, who led chants against what they described as political persecution.
Read also: Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti arrives National Assembly on foot
Tension was already high at the National Assembly earlier in the day as security operatives from the police, DSS, civil defence, and the Sergeant-at-Arms locked down the complex, frisking all entrants, including staff, journalists, and visitors.
Our correspondent counted over 100 security personnel positioned across various entrances to prevent Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan from gaining access.
Drama unfolds as Natasha Akpoti storms National Assembly
Upon reaching the inner gate of the Assembly, she was denied entry.
The situation briefly turned chaotic as her supporters confronted security agents and some heavy built men pushed aside the Seargeant-at-arms on duty, but rescinded when they saw armed police officers.
Speaking to journalists after being barred, Akpoti-Uduaghan did not mince words, declaring that the 10th National Assembly under Senate President Godswill Akpabio is “the worst Nigeria has ever had.”
“It’s on record that the National Assembly has decided to be in contempt of the court’s decisions.
“And it’s quite ironic because they are lawmakers. So that raises serious questions about the future of democracy in this country,” she said.
She insisted that her suspension was not only unjust but also procedurally flawed.
“Even the suspension ab initio was fraudulent. The document that recommended my suspension wasn’t even signed by the committee members, it was just a photocopy of an attendance sheet passed off as their signatures,” she alleged.
“That means from the very beginning, the suspension was invalid.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan confirmed that she would be meeting with her legal team to consider approaching the appellate court for a clear interpretation of the legal impasse.
“As of now, I am no longer suspended,” she said. “If the Senate insists on locking me out, they are operating outside the law. My right to represent the people of Kogi Central cannot be taken away based on a vendetta.”
This is personal vendetta, says Akpoti-Uduaghan
She accused Senate President Akpabio of personalising the institution and weaponising its processes against her:
She added, “This is a personal vendetta. The judgment nullifying my suspension hasn’t been appealed by the Senate; it was appealed by Akpabio himself. He is wielding the institution as a weapon of revenge.”
“This has gone beyond me. If Nigeria works, if our institutions are independent, then many of the people sitting in the Senate today should be in prison, not in Parliament,” she added.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan also opened up on what she described as a coordinated campaign of hatred against her since she dared to speak out about alleged sexual harassment within the Senate.
“Why was I suspended just a day after I submitted a petition on sexual harassment? Why has there been a string of attacks, from a botched recall process to trumped-up defamation charges since then?”
She clarified that her pending court cases involve alleged criminal defamation, not corruption or financial misconduct.
… Says she is only guilty of speaking up against injustice
“Let it be clear: I am not being charged for corruption, embezzlement, drug trafficking, or murder. The only thing I’m guilty of is speaking out about threats to my life and injustices against me,” she said.
She vowed not to apologise or back down despite pressures to do so.
“If it means serving the entire six months for a suspension that has already been nullified by the courts, so be it,” she declared defiantly.
The senator also reaffirmed her commitment to her constituents, noting that she has been actively delivering projects across Kogi Central during her suspension period.
“I’m a technocrat, a lawyer, and an oil and gas expert. I came into politics to raise the standard of leadership and show that we can lead with integrity,” she said.
“Africa deserves leaders who act, not just admire politicians from smaller countries.”
BusinessDay reports that the Senate Plenary was ongoing all through Akpoti-Uduaghan’s stand down at the gate.
BREAKING: Natasha Storms National Assembly on Foot, says Akpabio worst Senate President
Tope Omogbolagun
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, on Tuesday defied a heavy security blockade and arrived at the National Assembly complex on foot, accompanied by a crowd of supporters.
The lawmaker, whose suspension by the Senate is being contested in court, parked her vehicle outside the Assembly premises and walked through the main MOPOL gate in the company of activists including Aisha Yesufu, who led chants against what they described as political persecution.
Tension was already high at the National Assembly earlier in the day as security operatives from the police, DSS, civil defence, and the Sergeant-at-Arms locked down the complex, frisking all entrants, including staff, journalists, and visitors.
Our correspondent counted over 100 security personnel positioned across various entrances to prevent Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan from gaining access.
Upon reaching the inner gate of the Assembly, she was denied entry.
The situation briefly turned chaotic as her supporters confronted security agents and some heavy built men pushed aside the Seargeant-at-arms on duty, but rescinded when they saw armed police officers.
Speaking to journalists after being barred, Akpoti-Uduaghan did not mince words, declaring that the 10th National Assembly under Senate President Godswill Akpabio is “the worst Nigeria has ever had.”
“It’s on record that the National Assembly has decided to be in contempt of the court’s decisions.
“And it’s quite ironic because they are lawmakers. So that raises serious questions about the future of democracy in this country,” she said.
She insisted that her suspension was not only unjust but also procedurally flawed.
“Even the suspension ab initio was fraudulent. The document that recommended my suspension wasn’t even signed by the committee members, it was just a photocopy of an attendance sheet passed off as their signatures,” she alleged.
“That means from the very beginning, the suspension was invalid.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan confirmed that she would be meeting with her legal team to consider approaching the appellate court for a clear interpretation of the legal impasse.
“As of now, I am no longer suspended,” she said. “If the Senate insists on locking me out, they are operating outside the law. My right to represent the people of Kogi Central cannot be taken away based on a vendetta.”
She accused Senate President Akpabio of personalising the institution and weaponising its processes against her:
She added, “This is a personal vendetta. The judgment nullifying my suspension hasn’t been appealed by the Senate; it was appealed by Akpabio himself. He is wielding the institution as a weapon of revenge.”
“This has gone beyond me. If Nigeria works, if our institutions are independent, then many of the people sitting in the Senate today should be in prison, not in Parliament,” she added.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan also opened up on what she described as a coordinated campaign of hatred against her since she dared to speak out about alleged sexual harassment within the Senate.
“Why was I suspended just a day after I submitted a petition on sexual harassment? Why has there been a string of attacks, from a botched recall process to trumped-up defamation charges since then?”
She clarified that her pending court cases involve alleged criminal defamation, not corruption or financial misconduct.
“Let it be clear: I am not being charged for corruption, embezzlement, drug trafficking, or murder. The only thing I’m guilty of is speaking out about threats to my life and injustices against me,” she said.
She vowed not to apologise or back down despite pressures to do so.
“If it means serving the entire six months for a suspension that has already been nullified by the courts, so be it,” she declared defiantly.
The senator also reaffirmed her commitment to her constituents, noting that she has been actively delivering projects across Kogi Central during her suspension period.
“I’m a technocrat, a lawyer, and an oil and gas expert. I came into politics to raise the standard of leadership and show that we can lead with integrity,” she said.
“Africa deserves leaders who act, not just admire politicians from smaller countries.”
BusinessDay reports that the Senate Plenary was ongoing all through Akpoti-Uduaghan’s stand down at the gate.
