Why Natasha Shelved Today’s Resumption Amid Senate Tensions & Security Clampdown
In a dramatic twist that left political observers glued to the unfolding events, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan today backed away from storming the Nigerian Senate chambers despite a court ruling quashing her six-month suspension.
The embattled lawmaker, who represents Kogi Central, had secured a landmark judgment on July 4, declaring her suspension unconstitutional. This victory set the stage for what many anticipated would be a defiant return to plenary today.
But by Monday morning, the air around the National Assembly was anything but ordinary.
Security operatives in large numbers barricaded entrances, with plain-clothes personnel and uniformed guards stationed at strategic locations. The Senate leadership, clearly unwilling to be caught off guard, intensified surveillance amid swirling rumours that Natasha would force her way back onto the floor.
In a surprise move, however, Natasha announced she would shelve her immediate resumption, pending the receipt of the Certified True Copy of the court judgment:
“We are law-abiding. We have chosen not to proceed to the chamber until we are served the CTC of the judgment. This is to avoid any form of confusion,” she told reporters.
Her decision momentarily doused tensions but not before igniting fierce debates about constitutional supremacy versus parliamentary independence.
While the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio to immediately reinstate her, a coalition of civil society groups warned against undermining legislative discipline.
Adding a layer of intrigue, the Senate’s own legal adviser, Paul Daudu SAN, distanced himself from a leaked advisory letter purportedly recommending that Natasha not be allowed back:
“We have not officially served any such letter to the Senate President,” Daudu clarified, fanning the embers of confusion even further.
Interestingly, while the corridors of power in Abuja pulsed with uncertainty, Natasha was already back in her constituency, flagging off “smart market” projects in Okene and Okehi—a clear signal that her political machinery remains active, suspension or not.
As the National Assembly braces for what promises to be another round of legal and political fireworks, Nigerians are left pondering: Is this a test of the rule of law—or a power play to protect Senate turf?
One thing is certain. The Natasha saga is far from over.
