Tension at National Assembly as Security Tightens Ahead of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Attempted Plenary Resumption
In a scene reminiscent of high political drama, the Nigerian National Assembly Complex in Abuja was placed under heightened security surveillance on Tuesday, July 22, as embattled Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central attempted to resume plenary duties in defiance of what the Senate leadership describes as “ongoing legal ambiguity.” The confrontation marks the latest development in a contentious legal and political saga that has pitted Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan against the Senate hierarchy, raising critical questions about parliamentary independence, the limits of judicial authority, and the weaponization of institutional power.
Videos circulating on social media since early morning hours showed an overwhelming presence of security operatives—including heavily armed personnel from the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Sergeant-at-Arms—stationed at strategic entry points of the National Assembly complex. Vehicles were thoroughly screened, entry was restricted to only credentialed personnel, and journalists were momentarily barred before eventual clearance was granted following protests by members of the Press Corps.
This move to “secure” the legislative complex appears directly tied to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s formal declaration on Saturday, July 19, of her intention to return to the Red Chamber following a legal breakthrough she claims grants her that right. But her re-entry bid is already mired in resistance from the Senate leadership, who have dismissed the court ruling cited by the Kogi Central lawmaker as merely advisory and not binding on the legislative house.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who has been absent from Senate proceedings due to a long-running legal dispute over her election victory, announced over the weekend that she would resume duties following a July 18 judgment by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja. The ruling, which Akpoti-Uduaghan interpreted as confirmation of her continued right to represent the people of Kogi Central, sparked hope among her supporters that she would finally retake her seat.
However, the judgment itself is now the subject of differing interpretations. According to the Senator, Justice Nyako affirmed her right to legislative privileges pending the resolution of the substantive appeal lodged by her opponents. But the Senate leadership argues that the ruling did not amount to a mandamus order directing the legislative chamber to restore her privileges or admit her into plenary.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, issued a press statement on Sunday, July 20, emphasizing that the judgment only provided “judicial commentary” and not a “binding enforcement order.” He warned against misrepresenting the court’s language as a directive that binds the Senate, describing Akpoti-Uduaghan’s intended return as “legally premature and procedurally unapproved.”
“The court did not issue a mandamus or direct the Senate to act in any specific way. What was delivered was a judicial advisory, and until the Senate leadership takes a collective position, any attempt to force a resumption would be in defiance of procedure,” Adaramodu stated.
As early as 6:30 am, security presence around the National Assembly began to swell. Eyewitnesses reported convoys of security vans stationed at the three main entry points. Officers of the Nigeria Police Force, Federal Road Safety Corps, Civil Defence, and plainclothes operatives believed to be from the DSS monitored all activities. Senate staff and aides were asked to produce extra identification, while some legislative correspondents were initially denied access.
In the viral videos recorded by aides and sympathizers of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Kogi lawmaker could be seen arriving at the gates with her convoy only to be engaged in a lengthy exchange with security officials. She reportedly presented copies of the court judgment to security personnel and insisted she was exercising her right as a duly elected and legally affirmed Senator of the Federal Republic.
“The court has spoken. I am not forcing my way. I am doing what is legally permitted. The Senate must respect the rule of law,” she reportedly told reporters.
But despite her insistence, the entrance to the Senate chambers was barricaded, and she was denied entry pending further instruction from the office of the Senate President.
Observers are interpreting the showdown as a fresh fault line in Nigeria’s often tumultuous separation of powers. While courts possess the constitutional authority to interpret laws and adjudicate disputes—including those concerning elections and representation—enforcement of those rulings within parliamentary procedure remains a gray area.
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“There is no ambiguity in a declaratory judgment. If the court says she has a right to return, then she must return. The Senate has no power to override a valid judgment,” he said.
But constitutional law expert Dr. Festus Ekiye disagreed, noting that parliamentary autonomy allows the Senate to “vet and verify” any ruling before allowing resumption.
“This is not a simple case. The court did not issue a mandamus order. The Senate cannot be compelled without clarity on procedural compliance,” Ekiye insisted.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s journey to the Red Chamber has been anything but smooth. A former gubernatorial aspirant and one-time social reform advocate, she contested and was declared winner of the 2023 Senatorial election for Kogi Central under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
However, her opponent, Senator Abubakar Ohere of the All Progressives Congress (APC), challenged the results at the tribunal. A series of conflicting rulings followed, culminating in a Court of Appeal judgment that declared her victory valid. Still, delays in transmission of judgment and subsequent interlocutory appeals kept her in limbo, and she has remained away from the legislative floor for most of the 10th Assembly’s first year.
Her camp has argued that the protracted delay in granting her access to plenary is a deliberate political maneuver to keep Kogi Central without voice or vote in national affairs, pointing fingers at entrenched interests within the Senate leadership.
Today’s developments cast a long shadow over the integrity and independence of Nigeria’s legislative institution. With images of a Senator-elect being physically barred from entering a democratic chamber, public trust is likely to suffer yet another blow.
The Nigerian Senate has faced mounting criticism for appearing selective in the enforcement of court orders and resolutions. The same body has, in the past, sworn in members with pending litigations, yet now cites procedural caution to bar a candidate whose legal journey has already spanned nearly two years.
For the Nigerian public, the visual of armed guards at the gates of Parliament—blocking the return of an elected lawmaker—is both symbolically and politically damaging. Civil society groups have begun issuing statements condemning what they term “executive-style suppression of parliamentary freedom.”
In Lokoja, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s supporters staged a solidarity protest, waving placards and chanting slogans in defense of their Senator. The Kogi Central Traditional Rulers Council issued a communiqué urging President Tinubu to “intervene and protect democracy in the state.”
Meanwhile, the PDP national secretariat has issued a warning to the Senate, calling the blockade of Akpoti-Uduaghan an “abuse of power” and “a serious threat to constitutional order.”
“No democracy can survive when the will of the people is subverted. Natasha was duly elected. She must be allowed to resume,” PDP spokesperson Debo Ologunagba stated.
At press time, there has been no official statement from the office of the Senate President, and it remains unclear whether the standoff will be resolved through internal Senate processes or another trip to the courtroom.
Regardless of how the matter unfolds, today’s events have already deepened Nigeria’s democratic anxieties and added yet another chapter to the country’s long-running struggle between law, politics, and institutional supremacy.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s attempt to resume plenary amid security blockade is no longer just a personal battle—it is a microcosm of Nigeria’s democratic fragility. It highlights the friction between legal mandates and political interests, the vulnerabilities of legislative institutions, and the danger of allowing gatekeeping to eclipse representation.
As Nigerians watch this drama unfold, the question remains: Will the voice of a constituency be allowed to speak, or will politics once again override the people’s mandate?