The battle over the reinstatement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan took a fresh turn on Thursday as her lawyer and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) warned the Senate of legal action and nationwide protests if she is not allowed to resume plenary after the expiration of her suspension.
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In a letter dated September 11, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Michael Numa accused Senate leaders of deliberately undermining the mandate of Kogi Central voters. He argued that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension, which began on March 6, 2025, had lapsed, leaving no legal basis for her continued exclusion.
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Numa, writing on behalf of his firm, said the Senate’s claim that the matter was sub judice was a misuse of the doctrine. He cited past court rulings that nullified her suspension as unlawful and warned that any further delay would amount to contempt of court. He gave the Senate until September 15 to reinstate her or face legal action, including contempt proceedings and disciplinary charges.
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The NLC also weighed in, accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his colleagues of disenfranchising Kogi Central residents and defying judicial orders. In a statement signed by its president, Joe Ajaero, the union described the continued suspension as “the height of impunity,” warning that it threatened the foundations of Nigeria’s democracy.
The labour body said denying Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return amounted to “stealing representation” from her constituents and alleged that the Senate was testing the suppression of opposition ahead of the 2027 elections. It vowed to mobilise workers nationwide to resist what it called a drift into autocracy.
The dispute stems from Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension in March following a clash with Senate leadership. Although the courts have repeatedly voided the sanction, the Senate insists she cannot return until all pending appeals are resolved.
The deadline set by her lawyer expires on September 15, the same day the NLC has threatened to launch protests if the Senate refuses to reinstate her.
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