Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan successfully gained access to the National Assembly complex on Tuesday, after security operatives initially blocked her convoy at the gate despite a court order nullifying her six-month suspension.
Arriving in a black SUV alongside activist Aisha Yesufu, who was in the lead vehicle, Akpoti-Uduaghan was stopped at the main gate amid a heightened security presence involving DSS, police, and NSCDC personnel. Vehicles were searched, IDs demanded, and entry denied even as video footage captured anxious moments at the entrance.

Unfazed, Akpoti-Uduaghan exited the vehicle and marched into the complex on foot, surrounded by supporters chanting “Push!” and giving her a triumphant welcome. Security proved no barrier to her determination to resume plenary duties.

Context & Court Ruling
Earlier this month, the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Binta Nyako, ruled that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension was unconstitutional and excessive, ordering her immediate return to the Senate. Though Senate President Godswill Akpabio has appealed the ruling, claiming it interferes with internal legislative affairs, the senator has maintained that the court’s decision is binding.
Akpoti-Uduaghan confirmed she notified the Senate of her intent to resume on July 22, stating it made sense to act once she was legally cleared despite resistance