… insists injustice cannot be excused, thanks supporters for standing by her
By Mercy Gadia Adi
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) resumed at the National Assembly on Monday with a firm declaration that she would not issue an apology to the Senate as a condition for reopening her office. She maintained that her six-month suspension was “illegal and procedurally fraudulent.”
Speaking with journalists at the Assembly complex, Akpoti-Uduaghan disclosed that she had yet to receive any official communication on her status. She explained that the last correspondence from the Clerk stated that she would not be allowed to resume due to a pending appeal.
She expressed concern over reports that Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, may move a motion on October 7 seeking her apology before her full reinstatement.
“I am actually worried as to what apology they expect from me. You cannot apologize for an injustice,” she said. “The document that led to my illegal suspension, which was read by Senator Neda Imasuen originated from the office of the Senate President. The signatures attached were merely attendance sheets, not endorsements. That makes the entire process fraudulent.”
Condemning what she described as “dictatorship” in the Senate, she said she had been treated more like “a domestic servant” than an elected representative of her people.
Despite her suspension, the lawmaker noted that she remained committed to her constituents, facilitating projects, jobs, and opportunities for Kogi Central.
She used the occasion to express gratitude to supporters across political and civic platforms. “I thank my husband and children for their sacrifices, and I am grateful to civil society leaders such as Aunty Obi, Dr. Aisha, Mama P, Peter, Dr. Ardiola, and Yemi of Enough is Enough. I also acknowledge legal voices like Femi Falana, as well as political leaders including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Senate President Bukola Saraki.”
She further appreciated political parties including the Labour Party, ADC, and PDP, alongside institutions such as the Nigerian Bar Association and the Nigeria Labour Congress.
Akpoti-Uduaghan also commended the media for amplifying her plight, despite what she described as a climate of fear and intimidation.
“This shows that our institutions must be tested, and we must never bow in the face of injustice. No one is more Nigerian than the other,” she emphasized.
Calling for renewed faith in democratic institutions, she added: “Our democracy is evolving. As we move towards 2027, we must act patriotically because we have a country to save.”