The Nigerian Senate has indicated that it will not immediately reinstate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, despite a ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja nullifying her six-month suspension from the Red Chamber. The Senate insists that before any decision can be made, the senator must comply fully with the court’s directives, which include issuing a public apology and paying a fine.

Justice Binta Nyako, who delivered the judgment on Friday, described the suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan as excessive and in violation of the constitutional rights of her constituents in Kogi Central. The judge emphasized that while the Senate has the authority to discipline its members, such punishment must not override the rights of citizens to be represented in the National Assembly.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, a first-term senator on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was suspended by the Senate in March 2025 over allegations of “gross misconduct.” The action stemmed from a disagreement with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, which escalated following her public claims that Akpabio was victimizing her after she allegedly rejected his sexual advances; allegations that the Senate President has categorically denied.

The conflict came to national attention when Akpoti-Uduaghan, in a televised interview, accused Akpabio of personal bias and abuse of power. Following this, she was barred from Senate activities for six months, prompting her to challenge the decision in court.

In her suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, she argued that her suspension lacked legal backing and infringed on the rights of over a million residents of Kogi Central to be adequately represented in legislative affairs.

Delivering the verdict, Justice Nyako ruled that the Senate’s action was disproportionate, especially given that the National Assembly is constitutionally mandated to sit for just 181 days per year. A suspension that spans 180 days, she said, essentially silences an entire constituency and undermines the democratic process.

“The court is not saying the Senate lacks the authority to discipline its members,” Justice Nyako clarified. “However, such sanctions must not negate the constitutional rights of constituents to have their voices heard through their elected representative. She further declared certain provisions in Chapter Eight of the Senate Standing Orders and Section 14 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act as vague and lacking specificity regarding suspension duration.

Despite ruling in her favour on the core issue, the court also found Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt of court over a satirical Facebook post she published on April 27, 2025. Justice Nyako determined that the post was directly connected to the legal proceedings and undermined the court’s integrity.

As a result, the senator was ordered to; Publish a formal apology in two national newspapers, Issue the same apology on her official Facebook page, and Pay a ₦5 million fine to the court and was given a seven-day deadline to comply with these conditions.

Reacting to the court’s judgment, the Senate has maintained that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s reinstatement is not automatic. In a statement to journalists, Senate spokesperson Senator Yemi Adaramodu said the court affirmed the Senate’s right to discipline its members and that the senator must now fulfill the court’s instructions before the matter can proceed.

“The court has not overridden our powers. It merely said the duration of the suspension was excessive. But it also held her in contempt and directed her to issue a formal apology and pay damages. We are waiting for her to complete that process first,” Adaramodu said. He emphasized that the Senate would reconvene to consider her case only after she has met the court’s restitution requirements.

“It is now up to her. Once she does what the court has ordered, we will sit and examine the content of her apology and decide what steps to take next,” he added.

Also reacting to the judgment, Senate legal counsel Paul Dauda, SAN, said the ruling was a “partial victory” for the legislature. He explained that while the court disapproved of the length of the suspension, it did not issue a binding order for reinstatement.

“There was no specific relief granted asking the court to lift the suspension. What we got from the judge was an obiter dictum; a non-binding observation that the suspension was excessive. The Senate’s right to discipline its members was never in question,” Dauda stated.

He also noted that the contempt ruling supported the Senate’s position that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had acted inappropriately during the legal proceedings by making public commentary.

“The court agreed with our argument that social media posts targeting the matter before it amounted to contempt. She must now apologize publicly and pay a fine. Until she does that, the issue of reinstatement remains secondary,” he added.

Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar welcomed the court’s ruling and praised Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for defending her rights through legal means. In a statement shared via his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, Atiku commended Justice Nyako’s courage.

“I commend Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, for lifting the unjust suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. I also salute her for seeking redress through the courts instead of staying silent,” Atiku wrote. He added that the judgment should serve as a reminder of the importance of protecting democratic institutions and the rights of women in politics.

Several civil society organizations have also weighed in, describing the judgment as a landmark ruling that protects the integrity of representative democracy and sends a clear message about the abuse of internal legislative powers.

With the judgment now in public domain, all eyes are on Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, her willingness or refusal to comply with the court’s conditions will determine her political fate in the coming weeks.

Should she publish the mandated apology and pay the fine, the Senate may revisit the matter and potentially reinstate her. However, if she delays or contests the contempt ruling, the stalemate may persist, further prolonging the absence of Kogi Central’s voice in the National Assembly.

In the meantime, legal experts and political observers have warned that the matter could set a precedent for how far the powers of the legislature can go in disciplining members, especially in an era where social media and public accountability are changing the dynamics of governance.

For now, the political and legal drama surrounding Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan remains far from over.