Prominent activist Aisha Yesufu has vowed to stand by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as she prepares to resume her Senate duties on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, defying an appeal filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio challenging a Federal High Court ruling that nullified her six-month suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has consistently maintained her intent to return, citing the July 4, 2025, judgment by Justice Binta Nyako, which deemed her suspension excessive and unconstitutional. The ruling ordered her reinstatement, though the Senate insists it was advisory, not mandatory, sparking a legal standoff. Yesufu, a vocal critic of perceived injustices, took to social media on July 20 to rally support, calling the Senate’s resistance a “blatant disregard for judicial authority.”
The senator’s suspension in March 2025 followed a contentious plenary session and her allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio, which he denies. Despite a ₦5 million fine and an apology order for a satirical Facebook post, Akpoti-Uduaghan, backed by her legal team, argues the court’s decision is binding under Section 287(3) of the 1999 Constitution.
The Senate, however, through spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu, reiterated on July 21 that no enforceable order exists, urging her to await due process. Security at the National Assembly has been tightened, with 150 officers deployed, amid expectations of protests from Yesufu-led groups. Critics question the Senate’s delay as a power play, while supporters see Akpoti-Uduaghan’s resolve as a test of democratic accountability, with her return poised to reignite gender equity debates.
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