‘Akpabio is Not More of a Senator Than I Am, I Won’t Apologise’ – Senator Natasha Says as She Resumes Office

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan resumed at the National Assembly after six months of suspension.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has officially resumed duties at the National Assembly after six months of suspension, declaring she will not apologise to the Senate as a condition for her return.

The lawmaker representing Kogi Central under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was welcomed by jubilant supporters at the Assembly gates, chanting solidarity songs as security operatives tightened access around the complex. Her office, sealed since July, was reopened by the National Assembly’s Sergeant-at-Arms ahead of her arrival.

Addressing journalists, Natasha said: “I am actually worried as to what apology they expect from me. You can’t apologise for an injustice. If they are expecting me to apologise, I’m sorry, I don’t have those words. And if that is the condition for opening this office, then I think we have a long dance to make.”

She described her suspension as fraudulent, insisting the document that led to it was riddled with irregularities. “The signatures that endorsed it were not willful signatures; there was only an attendance sheet attached. That means the entire document that pronounced my suspension was riddled with fraud.”

On Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Natasha was blunt: “Senator Akpabio is not more of a senator than I am. He is not a governor of this place, yet he treated me as if I was his servant or domestic staff in his house. It is very unfortunate that after so many years of democracy, we would have the National Assembly being run by such dictatorship.”

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Visibly emotional, she thanked her constituents, family and allies for standing by her, saying: “To my husband, my love, I say I love you dearly… To my children, thank you for your sacrifices.”

She also acknowledged the support of civil society organisations, political parties, professional bodies, and political leaders, including Atiku Abubakar, Bukola Saraki, Obiageli Ezekwesili, Aisha Yesufu, and Femi Falana.

Meanwhile, security officers at the National Assembly fired teargas to disperse her supporters who attempted to accompany her into the complex.