Activist Aisha Yesufu has declared her support for Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, pledging to accompany the Kogi Central lawmaker to the National Assembly on Tuesday, as the senator insists on resuming duties despite objections from the Senate leadership.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, Yesufu argued that the senator had every legal right to return to office, referencing a court decision that nullified her suspension.
“I think Senator Natasha has every right to resume office, and by tomorrow, she is not going to resume alone. Some people are going to go with her, and I’ll be one of them,” she said.
“We’ll be with her and stand with her. And if the Senate decides they are going to kill us, let them kill us.”
Yesufu went on to criticise the marginalisation of women in politics, describing it as a broader systemic issue.
“We are not even one-third. Out of 109 senators, we have only four women. Yet you go after them — you’re going after this particular lady who has done nothing other than discharge her duty the way it should be. Enough of us being treated in this country as if we are second-class citizens.”
She described Natasha’s suspension as “unconstitutional” and accused the Senate of acting outside its bounds.
“The suspension by the Senate is unconstitutional. It’s unlawful. It should never have happened in the first place — especially coming from an institution supposed to uphold the constitution,” she stated.
According to her, the court never barred Akpoti-Uduaghan from performing her legislative duties, thus the lawmaker retains full rights to resume her seat.
“The court didn’t stop Natasha from going in, so she has a right to resume office. The court has ruled that the whole suspension is unconstitutional. The Senate didn’t make Natasha a senator — her people did — and there’s no way you can deprive them of their representation.”
Yesufu also accused the Senate of disobeying court orders and claimed the judiciary no longer acts independently.
“There was a ruling telling them to halt the suspension process, but they didn’t obey. The Senate is sending a message to Nigerians that it can act with impunity and disregard court rulings.
“The judiciary, which should be the last hope of the common man, is now a pawn in the hands of corrupt politicians. Even when a judgment is delivered, the judiciary now looks at the body language of those dictating what should be written.”
Despite the Senate’s position, Senator Natasha remains resolute. Over the weekend, she announced her decision to return to the Red Chamber on Tuesday, July 22.
“I have pretty much two months left before the six months expire. However, I’ve written to the Senate again, telling them that I’m resuming on the 22nd, which is Tuesday, by the special grace of God,” she said while speaking in her hometown of Ihima, Kogi State.
“I will be there because the court did decide on that. They may argue that it’s not an order, but it is a decision.”
The senator said that although she has remained active through empowerment programmes in her district, her suspension has kept her from sponsoring bills and contributing to Senate debates.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that her suspension was unconstitutional and directed the Senate to reinstate her. But Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s legal team appealed the ruling, arguing that it breached legislative independence and cited Section 251 of the Constitution to support their position.
On Sunday, Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu restated that there was no binding court order compelling her immediate reinstatement.
“It is therefore surprising and legally untenable that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan… is attempting to act upon an imaginary order of recall that does not exist,” he said.
The Senate also issued a caution, warning that her return would be deemed premature and a challenge to the institution’s authority.
“The Senate, as a law-abiding institution, is committed to upholding the rule of law and the integrity of its proceedings. It will not tolerate the disruption of its proceedings,” Adaramodu stated.
He added that the Senate would respond appropriately to the court’s advisory opinion when due process is complete.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was originally suspended on March 6, 2025, after a heated confrontation over seating arrangements and her allegation of sexual misconduct against Akpabio — an accusation he has denied.
