On July 22, 2025, the National Assembly complex in Abuja transformed into a fortress, with an unprecedented deployment of armed security operatives. Gates were locked, vehicles subjected to rigorous searches, and long queues formed as staff, journalists, and visitors were meticulously screened. The reason for this extraordinary show of force? One woman: Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a duly elected representative of Kogi Central, who sought to resume her legislative duties following a Federal High Court ruling declaring her six-month suspension unconstitutional. The heavy-handed response to her attempt to enter the Senate chambers exposes a troubling paradox in Nigeria’s security priorities: while the state mobilizes formidable resources to block a single female senator, vast regions of the country ravaged by insurgency, banditry, and bomb attacks remain woefully under protected. This article examines the implications of this disparity and questions why Nigeria’s security apparatus appears more focused on political control than public safety.
The National Assembly Standoff: A Disproportionate Response
The events of July 22 were nothing short of theatrical. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan arrived at the National Assembly at 12:20 p.m., accompanied by prominent activist Aisha Yesufu and a group of supporters chanting solidarity slogans. Citing Justice Binta Nyako’s July 4 ruling, which deemed her suspension “excessive, unlawful, and unconstitutional,” she sought to reclaim her rightful place in the Senate. Yet, her convoy was halted at the main gate, and security operatives, including armed guards, barred her entry. Undeterred, she disembarked and trekked toward the Senate chambers, only to be stopped again at the second gate. The Senate, led by President Godswill Akpabio, justified this blockade by claiming the court’s ruling was merely an “advisory opinion,” not a binding directive, despite Section 287(3) of the 1999 Constitution mandating compliance with court decisions.
This heavy security deployment, described as “unusual” by THISDAY and causing “long queues” at the complex’s entrance, raises serious questions about resource allocation. The National Assembly, a public institution meant to serve all Nigerians, was effectively locked down to prevent one senator from fulfilling her constitutional mandate. The optics are damning: a female lawmaker, already battling allegations of sexual harassment against a powerful Senate President, was met with a militarized response, while her supporters, including Yesufu, decried the abuse of power. This incident not only undermines democratic principles but also shows a gendered dimension, as Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only four female senators in a 109-member chamber, faces systemic resistance in a male-dominated political sphere.
The Security Vacuum in Nigeria’s Heartland
The irony of this spectacle is stark when juxtaposed against Nigeria’s broader security landscape. While the National Assembly was fortified to block a single senator, communities across the country face unrelenting threats from insurgency, banditry, and bomb attacks with inadequate protection. In the Northeast, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has intensified its campaign, raiding military bases and displacing civilians in Borno State under its “holocaust of the camps” offensive. In the Northwest, armed banditry has terrorized communities, with Kaduna’s governor admitting in 2022 that security agencies knew the locations and phone numbers of bandits but failed to act decisively. Recent reports indicate that Boko Haram and its splinter groups continue to exploit Nigeria’s under-resourced military, using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and vehicle-borne IEDs to devastating effect.
In April 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan herself reported an attack on her family home in Obeiba-Ihima, Kogi State, showing the insecurity even elected officials face. Yet, while her home was vandalized, the state’s response was limited to repelling assailants, with no reported follow-up to address the root causes. Meanwhile, flood-related violence in Niger and Zamfara States has claimed over 150 lives, and rural communities remain vulnerable to kidnappings and massacres. Social media posts on X have echoed this frustration, with users like @diiphillipo lamenting that “citizens are at the mercy of kidnappers, bandits, and terrorists without security protection” while armed personnel are deployed to block a senator.
The contrast is glaring. In 2024, Nigeria hosted a High-Level African Counter-Terrorism Meeting in Abuja, launching the “Abuja process” to coordinate resources against terrorism. Yet, the tangible impact of such initiatives remains questionable, as ISWAP and Boko Haram continue to exploit governance gaps. The Nigerian military, stretched thin and underfunded, has lost control of several bases, while banditry in the Northwest is described as a “complex and uncertain” threat, with some political leaders downplaying it as mere “business” rather than terrorism. The state’s ability to deploy DSS, Police, and NSCDC operatives in large numbers to secure the National Assembly suggests a capacity for rapid response—yet this capacity is rarely seen in the regions most in need.
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A Misallocation of Resources and Power
The heavy security at the National Assembly reflects a deeper issue: the prioritization of political control over public welfare. The Senate’s defiance of a court ruling, spearheaded by Akpabio, who filed an appeal in his personal capacity, suggests an attempt to preserve institutional power rather than uphold justice. This is not an isolated incident. Akpabio’s leadership has been marked by controversies, from his 2020 sexual harassment allegations to his dismissive remarks about Akpoti-Uduaghan’s conduct in the Senate. His insistence that the court’s ruling is non-binding, despite constitutional mandates, sets a dangerous precedent for the rule of law.
Meanwhile, the absence of equivalent security measures in insurgency-ravaged areas points to a systemic failure. The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and Borno State’s amnesty programs have had limited success against ISWAP’s resurgence, and rural communities lack the basic protection afforded to the National Assembly’s gates. The governor of Kaduna’s 2022 admission that security agencies possess intelligence on bandit enclaves but fail to act raises questions about political will or complicity, as some northern leaders have controversially labeled bandits as “business organizations” rather than terrorists. This reluctance to confront insecurity head-on contrasts sharply with the swift mobilization to block Akpoti-Uduaghan, suggesting that political rivalries—particularly those involving a vocal female opposition senator—take precedence over existential threats to citizens’ lives.
The Gendered Lens and Democratic Erosion
The gendered undertones of this incident cannot be ignored. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension followed her allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio, which were dismissed on procedural grounds, and her subsequent outspokenness about systemic sexism in the Senate. As Nigeria’s first female senator from Kogi State, her political journey has been fraught with challenges, from attacks on her mixed-race heritage during her 2019 gubernatorial campaign to misogynistic social media abuse following her accusations. The heavy security response to her return amplifies perceptions of a system intent on silencing women who challenge the status quo. As activist Hadiza Ado noted, the suspension of one of only four female senators is a “sad day for Nigerian women fighting for emancipation.”
This incident also erodes democratic trust. By barring a senator elected by thousands of Kogi Central voters, the Senate undermines the representation it is meant to uphold. The court’s ruling emphasized that the suspension deprived constituents of their voice, yet the Senate’s defiance prioritizes internal politics over democratic principles. The deployment of armed personnel to enforce this stance, while communities face unchecked violence, sends a message that the state’s resources are reserved for protecting power, not people.
A Call for Realignment
The events of July 22, 2025, demand a reckoning. Nigeria cannot afford to squander its security resources on political vendettas while citizens live under the shadow of insurgency and banditry. The Senate must respect the Federal High Court’s ruling and reinstate Akpoti-Uduaghan, not only to honor the rule of law but to restore faith in democratic institutions. The appeal filed by Akpabio should be expedited, and a transparent investigation into her harassment allegations must follow to address the systemic issues she has raised.
More critically, Nigeria’s security apparatus must be redirected to where it is most needed. The resources used to lock down the National Assembly could equip military outposts in Borno, provide surveillance in Kaduna, or protect vulnerable communities in Kogi. The “Abuja process” and regional counter-terrorism efforts must translate into tangible action, not just summits. Political leaders must move beyond rhetoric and address the intelligence failures and governance gaps that allow banditry and insurgency to thrive.
The image of a lone female senator trekking past armed guards to claim her rightful place in the Senate is a powerful symbol of resistance—but it is also a damning indictment of Nigeria’s priorities. The nation’s leaders must ask themselves: if such force can be mustered to block one woman, why is it absent in the face of terrorists and bandits? The answer will define Nigeria’s path toward security, justice, and true democracy.
