The Senate Leader,Opeyemi Bamidele, has said that the suspension of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central, remains the “lowest point” of the red chamber.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months on March 6, 2025, after an altercation with Godswill Akpabio, the senate president, over seating arrangements.
The decision followed the adoption of the report by the committee on ethics, privileges, and public petitions headed by Neda Imaseun.
The red chamber also approved that her office should be locked, and she must hand over all senate properties in her possession to the clerk of the national assembly for the duration of the suspension.
The upper legislative chamber approved the recommendation that neither the senator nor her staff should be seen within the national assembly premises during the suspension period.
The committee recommended that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s salaries, allowances, and those of her legislative aides should be suspended, along with the withdrawal of all security detail for the duration of the suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, however, formally resumed duties at the national assembly following the unsealing of her office after a six-month suspension in September 2025.
‘It was a distraction’
Bamidele said Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension created the impression that the upper legislative chamber lacked order and respect for women.
Bamidele noted that the prolonged public debate over Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension overshadowed the red chamber’s legislative output and dominated the media.
“A lot has been done, but I will mention what I consider to be the lowest point of the 10th assembly,” Bamidele said.
“It was when it looked like there was no order on the floor of the Senate; when it looked like we had no respect for the female gender; when it looked like we were not together as an institution.
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“It was at the time when a senator would grant an interview to say the 10th senate is the worst senate that this country has produced. We witnessed all of these. It lasted for a period.
“It was at a point where, rather than talking about what we were doing about the senate, the discussion on the media platform every morning was about whether or not we did the right thing suspending a senator; or whether the period of suspension was fair enough or was too long.
“So, essentially, there was a major distraction, and for me, it wasn’t a happy moment.”
Bamidele said the controversy diverted attention from the senate’s efforts to enact laws aimed at promoting good governance and supporting economic stability. “But as for achievements, I want to say that this senate has done a lot in working with the executive arm of government to stabilise this economy through the laws that we have made,” he added.
