Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has declared she would not apologise to her colleagues in the Senate if that was the requirement for her return.
The Kogi Central lawmaker, who resumed at her Senate office around 1:09 pm on Tuesday, labelled her suspension as “illegal.”
Tribune Online reports that Natasha arrived at the National Assembly (NASS) Complex after the Senate resolved to unseal her office.
Findings revealed that a leadership meeting held on Monday, ahead of Tuesday’s plenary, agreed to allow Akpoti-Uduaghan back.
Reports also indicated that senators were split on the fate of the Kogi PDP lawmaker, with many arguing that barring her further would “continue to create needless distractions for the Senate.”
Speaking to journalists after settling in her office, Akpoti-Uduaghan reiterated that she owed no apology for the reason behind her suspension, stressing that the process was “illegal.”
She said she was informed that one of the conditions for her reinstatement was to tender an apology, but insisted she would not bow to that demand.
Akpoti-Uduaghan stated, “So I am actually worried as to what apology they expect from me. You can’t apologise for an injustice. And may I remind the good people of Nigeria that the document that led to my illegal suspension, which is the recommendation which Senator Neda Imasuen read, was actually written by the office of the Senate President. And the signatures that endorsed that recommendation were not willful signatures. It was only a tender sheet that was attached.”
She continued, “That means the entire document that read and pronounced my suspension was listed with fraud. So, this is just one illegality upon the other. And I think in Nigeria, we should reject such things. I think it’s actually appalling that such an amount of illegality exists, and that fraud can occur in the National Assembly.
“So, 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.”
According to her, she resisted attempts by the Senate to treat her as though she were the “domestic staff” of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
She expressed gratitude to her supporters, including lawyers, her husband, opposition parties, women groups, the media, and her constituents who stood by her.
Crowds of supporters accompanied her to the National Assembly, prompting heightened security at the gates, though they eventually gained entry.
Natasha’s return to NASS comes just hours after the Senate postponed its resumption of plenary from September 23 to October 7, 2025.
The chamber had earlier adjourned on July 24 for its annual recess and was initially billed to reconvene today.
