Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan attended her first Senate plenary after serving her six-month suspension.
The Kogi Central representative, dressed in striking white attire, took her seat at precisely 11:42 a.m. on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, drawing warm handshakes from colleagues.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that Natasha attended her first Senate plenary following the conclusion of the red chamber’s 10-week recess.
It was observed that Natasha sat down in the seat she had fought against during her heated debate with the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, leading to her suspension.
Also, Natasha’s return today, however, appears focused on legislative duties rather than rekindling old grievances, as she quietly observed proceedings without immediate contributions.
Meanwhile, presiding over the Senate plenary after a 10-week recess, Akpabio, in his opening address, charged lawmakers to recommit themselves to accountability, discipline, and purposeful governance.
Addressing his colleagues in the red chamber, Akpabio reaffirmed the Senate’s responsibility to the Nigerian people, stating that “To the citizens of Nigeria, we hear you. You asked us not for excuses, but for results. We will remain accountable and responsive”.
He called for competence over popularity, saying that “If our politics must remain, let us choose the right men for the service of our nation, not the loudest voices or those who seek office as an ornament, but those worthy of the people’s trust”.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass recalls that Natasha attended her first Senate plenary after her several attempts to return initially were stopped by the upper chamber.
The development also occurred without Natasha tendering a public apology as requested by the Senate.
Recall that the lawmaker in a satirically letter apologised to Akpabio. Rather than backtrack, Akpoti-Uduaghan chose another approach, crafting a satirical apology letter that criticised the Senate leadership while maintaining her stance.
In her satirical apology letter, Natasha said she is pretending to apologise for keeping her dignity and self-respect when dealing with the Senate President.
The letter reads: “Dear Distinguished Senate President Godswill Akpabio, It is with the deepest sarcasm and utmost theatrical regret that I tender this apology for the grievous crime of possessing dignity and self-respect in your most exalted presence.
“I have reflected extensively on my unforgivable failure to recognise that legislative success in certain quarters is not earned through merit, but through the ancient art of compliance — of the very personal kind.
“How remiss of me not to understand that my refusal to indulge your… “requests” was not merely a personal choice, but a constitutional violation of the unwritten laws of certain men’s entitlement. Truly, I must apologize for prioritizing competence over capitulation, vision over vanity, and the people’s mandate over private dinners behind closed doors.
She was suspended in March over the alleged violation of the Senate’s standing rules, a decision that sparked mixed reactions.
The PDP senator had approached the court in July over the matter and made an unsuccessful attempt to resume sitting.
While the matter is still in court, the lawmaker served out her six-month suspension in September and declared her intention to return to her duty.
She wrote to the Senate, informing it of her intention to resume, but the lawmakers, while acknowledging her letter, said they would not take action on it until the end of the court process.
After six months under lock and key, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s office was finally unsealed on September 23, enabling her to return to her office.
The senator entered her office, located in Suite 2.05 of the Senate Wing, after it was opened by the security officals of the National Assembly.
It was gathered that the office was reopened by the Sergeant at Arms, Deputy Director, Sergeant-at-Arms, Alabi Adedeji weeks ago.
“For me, I am glad to be here,” she said in her office for the first time in six months.
“Even though we had been illegally suspended, not a day has I hesitated in effectively carrying out my duties as the senator of Kogi Central to the very best of my capacity,” she said.
