Senate President Godswill Akpabio has called on suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to tender a public apology, insisting that the Nigerian Senate is not a reality show and cannot be stormed with cameras and supporters.
The call came after Akpoti-Uduaghan made two unsuccessful attempts to resume plenary, citing a Federal High Court judgment which she claimed nullified her six-month suspension. However, Akpabio’s aide, Kenny Okolugbo, stated in a release on Monday that her reliance on the court decision was misleading, noting that she had already filed an appeal that challenges the trial court’s failure to clearly nullify the suspension.
Quoting Ground 23 of her appeal, Okolugbo argued that the court did not expressly order her reinstatement, thus contradicting her public claims. “There was no official communication from the court to the Clerk of the Senate or its leadership. Instead, she arrived at the National Assembly with cameras and supporters — a clear media stunt,” he said.
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He stressed that the suspension was not personal but rooted in Senate rules and constitutional provisions, and added that Akpoti-Uduaghan could have been reinstated by simply offering an apology. “Even the Brekete Family advised her to apologize, but she refused,” he said, warning that her actions could damage the credibility of women’s political representation.
