The Senate has ridiculed Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s dramatic attempt to resume plenary on Tuesday, despite her ongoing suspension, likening the incident to “skit making” and a “season film.”
Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, led the charge, dismissing Natasha’s actions as theatrical and outside the bounds of legislative procedure.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, arrived at the National Assembly complex only to be met with heavy security presence. Armed officers blocked all entrances, barring her from entry and ordering both her and her supporters to vacate the premises.
The standoff quickly escalated. Her supporters attempted to breach the gates, chanting “Push!” as they clashed with security forces, who eventually repelled them. The chaos caused significant human and vehicular gridlock around the complex.
Natasha’s suspension, handed down in March for alleged misconduct and defiance of Senate seating protocols, is still in effect. But she challenged the decision in court—and in June, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that the suspension was unconstitutional and excessive.
Justice Nyako declared that the Senate had overstepped its authority, stating that lawmakers cannot be suspended in a way that effectively denies representation to their constituents for most of the legislative year. The National Assembly is constitutionally required to sit for 181 days annually.
Nevertheless, Senate leadership argued that the ruling could not be acted upon until the Certified True Copy of the judgment was received.
Undeterred, Natasha vowed to resume plenary, prompting Senator Adaramodu to issue a stern warning on Sunday, insisting there was no enforceable order mandating her return.
Blocked by security officers on Tuesday, Natasha told reporters, “Justice Nyako ruled my suspension unconstitutional. Denying me access today violates my rights and those of my constituents.”
But speaking later on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Adaramodu mocked the senator’s efforts, accusing her of turning legislative affairs into a performance.
“The National Assembly at large has a lot of roles to play. We are legislators and lawmakers, not spectators to be watching skit making and content creation,” he said.
“Initially I said all these episodes and saga is all about content creation, now that the content has been created, it’s now degenerating into a season film.”
“We are not interested, we are lawmakers not actors, we are not interested in all these kinds of things.”
He also stressed that court orders must follow due process and cannot be enforced unilaterally by litigants.
“Even when any litigant goes to court and gets judgement, either the person feels that this is an order when that is not an order, the litigant does not enforce the order by himself or herself,” he explained.
“There are court bailiffs who will serve orders on those that should be served as prescribed by the court.”
“I know that Nigerians know that this is another skit making and a continuation of the content making episode by our own colleague,” he added.
Despite the legal ruling in her favour, it remains uncertain when, or if, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan will be allowed to return to the Senate floor.
