In a move that could end months of political tension, the National Assembly has officially unsealed the office of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan representing Kogi Central, restoring her full access to the Senate wing.
The unsealing took place on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, when Alabi Adedeji, Deputy Director of Sergeant-at-Arms, unlocked Office Suite 2.05 (also reported as Room 205) in the Senate Wing on behalf of the Senate, in the presence of security personnel.
The office had been sealed for six months following her suspension by the Senate on March 6, 2025, over alleged misconduct.
The misconduct stemmed from her protest against the reassignment of her Senate seat by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on February 20, 2025.
Along with the sealing of her office, the suspension included barring her from Senate functions and withholding of salary, aides’ emoluments, and other entitlements.
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Although the six-month suspension officially expired in September, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has faced obstacles resuming her duties due to ongoing legal issues and resistance from Senate leadership.
She had written to the Senate notifying her intention to resume after the suspension elapsed, but the request was initially rejected.
In July, the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that the six-month sanction was unconstitutional as it denied her constituents representation. That ruling, however, was not immediately enforced by the Senate, pending appeal.
With the unsealing of her office, Akpoti-Uduaghan is expected to regain full access to the National Assembly complex and resume legislative duties when plenary reconvenes on October 7, 2025.
Civil society groups and legal experts have welcomed the development, describing the previous restrictions as undemocratic and warning that continued denial of access would violate constitutional rights of her constituents.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team had threatened to pursue contempt proceedings against the Clerk of the National Assembly should she continue to be denied entry.
Meanwhile, Acting Clerk Yahaya Danzaria had earlier maintained that the suspension remained in effect until the Court of Appeal adjudicated the case. With the office now officially reopened, those legal and institutional barriers appear to be easing.
