Following the expiration of her six-month suspension, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central faced a tense standoff at the National Assembly on Tuesday as security operatives dispersed her supporters and constituents gathered to welcome her back.
Eyewitnesses reported that the lawmaker arrived at the complex accompanied by a large crowd, only to be prevented from entering. Security agents deployed tear gas to control the gathering, resulting in several injuries. Some of the affected individuals, including women and youths who had traveled from Kogi State, were evacuated to nearby hospitals for medical attention.
The confrontation occurred shortly after Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s office within the National Assembly was reinstated, raising expectations that she would resume her legislative duties without hindrance. The heavy security presence and use of crowd-control measures turned what was intended as a peaceful welcome into a scene of chaos.
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“It was supposed to be a historic return for her, but it turned into a nightmare,” said a National Assembly staff member who witnessed the incident.
Reacting to the events, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan condemned the dispersal, stating that her return should have been handled with greater respect for democratic principles. “These are innocent Nigerians who came in peace; they deserve better,” she told journalists.
