• Atiku: It’s triumph of reason over tyranny

From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has resumed duties as a lawmaker of the Federal Republic of Nigeria after six months of suspension, vowing that she would never apologise to the Senate if that is a condition for her return.

The lawmaker representing Kogi Central under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was greeted by a large crowd of jubilant supporters who thronged the National Assembly gates, chanting solidarity songs and waving placards as security operatives tightened access around the complex.

Deputy Director, Sergeant At Arms Mr. Alabi Adedeji, unsealed the office yesterday morning. In a viral video, he said: “I hereby unseal the office of Senator Natasha Akpoti -Uduaghan” to pave the way for the Kogi-Central Senator to resume her legislative duties when the Senate reconvenes for plenary on Tuesday October 7.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on  March  6  over alleged misconduct and violation  of Senate Standing rules, having protested the reassignment of her seating position. The court had described her six-month suspension as excessive.

Following the unsealing of her office, Natasha walked in to cheers and applause from her aides and supporters at about 1:10pm before addressing journalists.

“I want to be quite limited with what I will say, but in the weeks to come I will have much more to say,” Akpoti-Uduaghan began. “The last communication I received from the Clerk of the National Assembly was that I would not be allowed access to resume because the matter was still pending at the appeal. So, I am still awaiting a formal letter because it is important to understand the conditions they might set illegally concerning the opening of my office.”

She said she was disturbed by reports that the Senate leadership planned to demand an apology as part of her reinstatement.

“I read somewhere that a leadership meeting was held yesterday, and the Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, would on October 7 read a motion calling on me to apologise. I am actually worried as to what apology they expect from me. You can’t apologise for an injustice.”

She described her suspension as a product of fraud. “May I remind the good people of Nigeria that the document that led to my illegal suspension, which Senator Nwoko Maxwell read, was written by the office of the Senate president.

“The signatures that endorsed it were not willful signatures; there was only an attendance sheet attached. That means the entire document that pronounced my suspension was riddled with fraud. This is just one illegality upon the other, and I think Nigerians should reject such things. 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.”

•Atiku: Triumph of reason over tyranny

Former vice president and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has described the return of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as the triumph of reason over tyranny.

Atiku said although the people of Kogi Central could not regain the six months of representation denied them at the Senate, the struggle was not in vain.

“It is reassuring that the voice of reason has prevailed at last with the unsealing of the office of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

“Though the precious time denied the people of Kogi Central in the Senate can never be reclaimed, this struggle has not been in vain. It has proven, once again, that when we stand together, we can triumph over tyranny.

“The suspension of Governor Simi Fubara and lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly, the unlawful suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, and the weaponisation of state institutions to harass and intimidate opposition voices are not isolated acts.

“They are deliberate markers of the Tinubu administration’s strategy as 2027 approaches: to subvert our hard-earned democracy and compromise the will of the people at any cost.”

Atiku vowed that the opposition would continue to resist what he termed creeping authoritarianism.

“Let it be clear: on our part, we shall do everything legitimate and within the bounds of the law to protect our democracy, defend the sovereignty of the people’s mandate, and rescue our nation from the grip of authoritarianism,” he declared.

•Challenges

Meanwhile, Natasha has recounted the challenges she faced during her suspension.  “How much we have had to face and survive in the past six months happened in the full glare of Nigerians. From the unjust suspension to the recall, we survived. We survived the blockage of roads and waterways into Kogi that forced us to fly in by helicopter. We survived the blackmail from the so-called crazy lady on Facebook. It is amazing what we had to survive. To God Almighty be the glory.”

Visibly emotional, Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed gratitude to her family, constituents and allies. “My deepest appreciation goes to the good people of Kogi Central, Kogi State and Nigeria at large. To my husband, my love, I say I love you dearly, and I pray all men support their wives as much as you have supported me. To my children, thank you for your sacrifices.”

The lawmaker accused Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, of unjustly treating her with disdain. “Senator Akpabio is not more of a senator than I am. He is not a governor of this place, yet he treated me as if I was his servant or domestic staff in his house. It is very unfortunate that after so many years of democracy, we would have the National Assembly being run by such a dictatorship. It is totally unacceptable.”

But despite her suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan never abandoned her mandate as “no day went by without me looking out for opportunities to bring infrastructure or projects to my people and jobs wherever I could, because I didn’t want them to suffer the neglect and vacuum created by this injustice.”

•We can’t give up our hopes

She thanked civil society organisations, political parties and professional bodies that stood by her, including the Labour Party (LP),  African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as well as political leaders including former vice president, Atiku Abubakar and former Senate president, Bukola Saraki.

“I can’t even call all the names. From Obiageli Ezekwesili to Sister Aisha, Mama P, Peter the Rock, Dr. Viola, Uncle Femi Falana, and so many Nigerians who lent their voices, thank you. The voices of Nigerians made it clear to the Senate President that he just can’t keep pushing against the will of the people.”

She also commended the media while assuring that all will be well with Nigeria if the people keep hope alive. “Our democracy is evolving and the future is bright. We cannot give up our hopes. Leading into 2027, we must put out actions that will be worthwhile because patriotically, we have a country to save.”

•Police teargas

Policemen stationed at the main entrance of the National Assembly released at least four canisters of teargas on supporters of the Senator in a bid to prevent them from accessing the complex.

The supporters had gathered to accompany the returning lawmaker to her office but were stopped from proceeding further. In a bid to restrain them, some of the officers released teargas to push back the crowd which dispersed after the incident.

Meanwhile, authorities of the National Assembly have rescheduled resumption of plenary activities to October.

Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr. Kamoru Ogunlana, in the statement said: ”I am directed by the presiding officers of both chambers of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to inform all members of the National Assembly and the general public.

“That the resumption date of the national assembly earlier scheduled for Tuesday 2 September 23 is postponed to Tuesday October 7.

“However, committee activities continue; all distinguished senators and honourable members are requested to take note of the new date and adjust their schedules accordingly.

“Any inconvenience caused by this rescheduling is deeply regretted.”