Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has been informed by the National Assembly (NASS) that she cannot yet resume her legislative duties, despite the expiration of her six-month suspension. The NASS bureaucracy maintains that her suspension remains in effect due to a pending case before the Court of Appeal, rendering the matter subjudice.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had notified the NASS of her intention to return to the Senate on September 4, 2025, citing this date as the end of her suspension. However, in a letter dated September 4, 2025, and signed by the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly (Ag. CNA), Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, the Parliament acknowledged her notification but clarified that her suspension, effective from March 6, 2025, remains in force while the judicial process is ongoing. The letter stated that "until the judicial process is concluded and the Senate formally reviews the suspension in the light of the court’s pronouncement, no administrative action can be taken by this office to facilitate your resumption." Dr. Danzaria assured that she would be duly notified of the Senate's decision once the matter is resolved.

The initial suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was imposed by the Senate in March 2025 following alleged misconduct, specifically a dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over seat arrangements during a plenary session. Following an adverse ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja regarding her suspension, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan appealed the judgment to seek redress.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vehemently condemned the National Assembly's decision to prevent Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming her duties. The party labeled the initial suspension as "unjust" and asserted that denying her resumption further breaches the rights of her constituents in the Kogi Central Senatorial District to be represented. According to Honourable Debo Ologunagba, PDP National Publicity Secretary, this action "smacks of a calculated attempt orchestrated by the Senator Akpabio-led All Progressives Congress (APC) Senate leadership to abridge the right of representation."

The PDP argued that using the National Assembly establishment against an elected Senator, in violation of the 1999 Constitution and Senate Standing Rules, is "highly provocative and constitutes a clear and present danger to democracy." The party further characterized it as part of the APC government's tactics to "suffocate the opposition," indicative of "creeping totalitarianism." During her suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan also made sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Akpabio, a petition which was later dismissed by the Senate Committee on Ethics.

The PDP rejected the National Assembly's subjudice stance, linking it to "allegations of attacks on the rights of women and sustained attempts to stifle their voices" against Senator Akpabio. The party demanded that the Senate President "come clean on the various allegations" rather than using the NASS establishment to "harass, intimidate, and keep Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan away." The PDP strongly cautioned the Clerk of the National Assembly to withdraw the letter, insisting that he remain neutral and not be "politically entangled." The party called on the international community, democratic institutions, and rights advocacy groups to condemn this renewed attack, and urged Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to disregard the Clerk's letter and prepare to resume, demanding that the Senate leadership ensure her unhindered return.