A delegation of opposition senators has visited suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, at her home, as the controversy surrounding her suspension continues to stir national debate. The visit, led by Seriake Dickson, a former governor of Bayelsa State, took place on Friday, March 7, 2025, and was part of ongoing efforts to resolve the escalating dispute that led to her six-month suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, a member of the opposition, was suspended on Thursday, March 6, after she refused to accept her new seat in the Senate. The suspension followed a heated row between her and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, which has sparked widespread debate and drawn sharp criticism from several quarters, including women’s rights groups and civil society organisations.
The delegation of opposition senators, led by Seriake Dickson, included several lawmakers from various opposition parties. Dickson, who is a member of the Senate’s Ethics and Privileges Committee that recommended Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, shared a photo of the visit on his social media accounts. He explained that his engagement with the Tax Reform Bills had kept him away from Senate proceedings on the day of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension.
“The public may recall that, for the past 3 days, I was attending the 3-day workshop on the Tax Reform Bills which started on Wednesday 5th of March and ended this evening, Friday 7th of March,” Dickson stated, adding that this was the reason he was absent from the committee’s meeting during the time of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension. “I was not notified of the emergency seating yesterday,” he continued, referring to the meeting where the suspension decision was made.
The visit, according to Dickson, was part of a longstanding tradition among senators to support one another, especially during challenging moments. “As humans, senators have their low and high moments, and it is a tradition for Senators to support each other during these moments,” Dickson said in a statement shared on his social media pages.
During the visit, Dickson and his colleagues offered words of encouragement, prayers, and advice on a quick resolution to the issues surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension. He also mentioned that, after hearing more from the senator and her husband, he would engage with other colleagues in the Senate leadership to discuss possible interventions and work towards resolving the matter.
“Having heard more from her and her husband for the first time, I will discuss with other colleagues on how to intervene and engage with the leadership of the Senate to resolve the issues as soon as possible,” Dickson assured the public.
The suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been the result of a prolonged dispute within the Senate. The issue began when Akpoti-Uduaghan refused to accept a new seat in the upper chamber, which she claimed was part of a broader scheme orchestrated by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Her refusal to take the seat escalated into serious allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio, which further complicated the matter.
