The Office of the Clerk to the National Assembly has clarified that it lacks the authority to facilitate the return of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Senate following her suspension.
In a statement issued on Monday by its Director of Information, Bulah Audu Bi-Allah, the Clerk’s Office said recent media reports had misrepresented its role in the dispute surrounding the Kogi Central lawmaker.
According to the statement, the Clerk’s duties are strictly administrative and guided by Senate resolutions, Standing Orders, and the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
“The Clerk does not possess the authority to review, reverse or interpret Senate decisions,” the statement read.
The clarification comes after Akpoti-Uduaghan attempted to resume her duties on September 4, 2025, having completed a six-month suspension imposed on March 6. The Clerk’s Office noted that it had formally notified Senate leadership of her communication but stressed that the matter was beyond its remit.
“The Clerk is therefore not in a position to facilitate her resumption at this time. Only the Senate or a court can decide Senator Natasha’s resumption,” the statement said.
It added that whether Akpoti-Uduaghan can resume her legislative duties without a fresh Senate resolution is a matter strictly for the chamber or the judiciary to determine.
