Human rights advocate Aisha Yesufu has pledged to stand with Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as she prepares to return to the National Assembly on Tuesday, reaffirming her support for the Kogi Central lawmaker whose suspension by the Senate has sparked widespread controversy.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s planned return follows a ruling by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which declared the senator’s suspension unconstitutional and called for her reinstatement. Despite this, the Senate President’s legal representatives have appealed the decision, claiming the judiciary has overreached by interfering in legislative affairs.
During an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, Yesufu criticized the Senate for ignoring the court’s verdict and warned of the consequences of undermining the judiciary. “I think Senator Natasha has every right to resume office, and by tomorrow, she is not going to resume alone. There are people who 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.”
She also condemned what she described as entrenched gender discrimination in Nigerian politics.
“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 said.
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Yesufu further argued that the Senate’s actions not only violate the constitution but also erode democratic values.
“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. 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.”
She also raised concerns about the judiciary’s growing vulnerability to political manipulation. “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 judgement is delivered, the judiciary now looks at the body language of those dictating what should be written,” Yesufu said.
Meanwhile, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan remains determined to resume her legislative duties despite the Senate’s continued resistance.
While addressing supporters in Ihima, Kogi State, she stated, “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. I will be there because the court did make a decision on that. They may argue that it’s not an order, but it is a decision,” she added.
The senator was suspended on March 6, 2025, after being accused of violating Senate rules, following a heated altercation involving seat allocations and her allegation of sexual misconduct against Senate President Godswill Akpabio—an accusation he has denied.
Despite the court ruling, the Senate maintains that Akpoti-Uduaghan should not return until her suspension term ends, insisting that there is no enforceable order requiring her immediate reinstatement.
