Natasha Resumes at Senate, Calls Akpabio a “Dictator”

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has formally resumed her legislative duties at the National Assembly after a six-month suspension. On her return, she did not mince words — branding Senate President Godswill Akpabio a “dictator” over how she was treated during her suspension. 

🔍 Key Details & Timeline

• Natasha’s Senate office, located in Suite 2.05 of the Senate Wing, had been sealed since March 6, 2025, when she was suspended. 

• The Deputy Director, National Assembly Sergeant-at-Arms, Alabi Adedeji, officially removed the seal and unsealed her office. 

• Natasha said she “has no apology to tender” for her stance.

• In her address, she admonished:

  “Senator Akpabio is not more of a senator than I am. He is not the governor of this place, yet he treated me as if I were a servant or domestic staff in his house.”
  “It is so unfortunate that we will have a National Assembly being run by such a dictator. It is totally unacceptable.” 

⚖ Background & Context

• Natasha’s six-month suspension was enacted in March 2025. That suspension prevented her from accessing her office, receiving security, and participating in Senate affairs. 

• Though the suspension expired, her return had been blocked due to legal and institutional resistance. 

• Earlier, the Federal High Court Abuja had ruled that the suspension was excessive and unconstitutional, giving her leverage to demand reinstatement. 

🧩 What This Means

• Her return marks a blow to Senate leadership’s control constraints and reasserts her position as a defiant voice in the chamber.

• The “dictator” label threatens to amplify tensions in the Senate, forcing debates about internal democracy, authority, and how dissent is handled in legislative bodies.

• It raises questions about whether her full privileges (seating, committee assignments, participation) will be fully restored when plenary resumes — currently slated for October 7, 2025, after the Senate extended its recess.