Follow Us on Google
By Lukman Olabiyi
The political drama surrounding Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension and return to the National Assembly has intensified, with a top aide to Senate President Godswill Akpabio accusing her of misleading the public and staging a media stunt.
Sir Kenny Okolugbo, Communications and Strategy Consultant to the Senate President, criticized Senator Natasha’s July 22 reappearance at the Senate, describing it as “a calculated act of deception” unsupported by any legal directive.
“There was no formal notification to the Senate leadership or the Clerk of the National Assembly regarding her return. The judgment by Justice Binta Nyako did not order the Senate to recall her,”Okolugbo said in an interview.
According to Okolugbo, Senator Natasha’s claim of judicial reinstatement falls apart when closely examined, particularly her own appeal documents in Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan v. Clerk of the National Assembly & Ors.
He pointed to ground 23 of the appeal, which states that while the trial judge found the suspension excessive, no explicit order was made to nullify it.
Quoting the filing, Okolugbo said: “The learned trial judge erred in law… after rightly adjudging the suspension… as excessive… failed to expressly make a clear pronouncement to set aside and/or nullify same accordingly.”
“This clearly shows the suspension was never set aside. Yet she came to the gates of the National Assembly with cameras, flanked by street urchins and political hangers-on, pretending to have a mandate. That was irresponsible,” he said.
He insisted that proper protocol requires the clerk to notify the Senate leadership if a court mandates a recall, after which the matter would be tabled and deliberated.
“You don’t storm a constitutionally regulated chamber. The Senate is not a reality TV set,” he added.
Defending the Senate President, Okolugbo stressed that Akpabio acted strictly in line with the constitution and Senate Standing Orders.
“The decision to suspend her was not personal. It followed due process under Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution,” he said.
He also rejected a series of allegations Senator Natasha made against the Senate President ranging from sexual harassment to organ harvesting, calling them “baseless, contradictory, and outrageous.”
“She accused Senator Akpabio of sexual harassment on December 8, 2023, and praised him publicly a day later. These wild claims are part of a desperate attempt to gain sympathy and distract from the facts,” Okolugbo said.
On claims that her suspension disenfranchised Kogi Central, Okolugbo countered that her constituency’s legislative agenda continued during her absence.
“The bill establishing the Federal Medical Centre, Ihima, was passed while she was suspended. Her Gold Reserve Bill and Diaspora Banking Bill are progressing,” he said.
He revealed that the Senate had outlined a path for Senator Natasha’s reinstatement: “All she needed to do was apologise publicly for her unruly conduct on February 20, 2025. Even the Brekete Family advised her to do so but she refused.”
Okolugbo also voiced concern over the broader implications of the controversy on women in politics. “Nigeria has only four female senators. When gender is weaponised or false narratives are pushed, it undermines genuine struggles. Her conduct could discourage future female participation,” he warned.
He criticised media outlets for sensationalising the situation, alleging that some reporters “knew the facts but chose drama.”
“We stayed silent initially to avoid giving her antics oxygen. But Ground 23 is public now — and it proves she lied,” he said.
As for resolution, Okolugbo said the way forward is clear: “If she apologises and retracts her claims, this ends immediately. If not, the legal process will continue.”
Calling her actions “a voyage to nowhere,” he concluded: “Senator Natasha’s conduct has damaged Senate protocols and the image of female political leadership. We hope reason will prevail.”
