ABUJA — The Office of the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA) has distanced itself from the ongoing dispute over the resumption of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central), insisting it lacks the authority to facilitate her return to the Red Chamber.
In a statement issued on Monday by its Director of Information, Bulah Audu Bi-Allah, the CNA said recent media reports had misrepresented its role, stressing that its responsibilities 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 Senator Natasha attempted to resume duties on September 4, 2025, following the expiration of her six-month suspension handed down by the Senate on March 6, 2025.
According to the CNA, while it acknowledged and duly communicated her correspondence to the Senate leadership, it has no power to act on her request.
“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 office stated.
Reaffirming its stance, the CNA stressed that determining whether Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan can resume her legislative duties “lies solely with the Senate and not with the Office of the Clerk to the National Assembly.”
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