Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan showed up at the National Assembly on Tuesday, where a crowd of her supporters had already gathered outside the complex.

Security presence at the National Assembly gate was significantly heightened, with stern-looking officers inspecting vehicles and limiting access for visitors, directing them to park outside.

At least five police patrol vans were observed stationed at a key point near the Assembly gate.

The increased security followed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s declaration that she intended to resume her senatorial duties despite warnings from the Senate.

The senator, who was suspended in March, said over the weekend that she had officially informed the Senate of her plans to return, basing her decision on a recent court ruling.

Speaking during a constituency training session, she stated that she had written the Senate leadership about her return.

“I will be there, because the court did make the decision on that. Now, they argue that it’s an order, it’s not an order, but it is a decision,” she insisted.

She emphasized that although her suspension hadn’t hindered her from carrying out constituency-related initiatives, it had prevented her from fully participating in legislative responsibilities such as introducing bills and sponsoring motions.

Her position was supported by her legal counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, West Idahosa, who asserted that the court’s ruling justified her return to the Senate.

“Let me be honest with you. Attendance is a legislative action.

“As far as we are concerned, we are focused on the appeal and other issues before the court.

“I think the decision to go back to the Senate will be determined by the constituents.

“Now that she said she wants to go and resume, let us see what the reaction of the Senate will be. But the most important thing is that she is still a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said in a phone interview.

When contacted on Monday, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s aide, Isah Bala, said he couldn’t confirm her immediate plans.

“It is not something I can immediately confirm now because we just returned from a programme in Okene,” he said, adding that he would provide clarity later.

By the time of reporting, Bala had yet to respond with further information.

Meanwhile, the Senate reiterated its stance that the senator remains suspended and barred from the chamber until the conclusion of the suspension period.

Senator Yemi Adaramodu, who chairs the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, restated the Senate’s position on Sunday, saying there was no court order mandating her reinstatement.

In a separate development, activist Aisha Yesufu pledged to accompany Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Senate on Tuesday as a show of support.

During an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, Yesufu criticized the Senate’s position and cautioned against ignoring judicial decisions.

She also labeled Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension as unconstitutional and accused the Senate of overstepping its bounds.

Efforts by a coalition of opposition politicians operating under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) are facing resistance as a segment of stakeholders strongly rejects Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s appointment as the party’s Interim National Secretary.

The group, led by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Musa Isa Matara, issued a statement on Wednesday condemning what they described as the “attempted takeover” of the party by Aregbesola.

“We are not opposed to coalitions. We are not opposed to reform. But we are opposed to hijack, to imposition, and to speeches that sound revolutionary but hide elitist intentions beneath poetic language,” stated the stakeholders, which include women and youth groups within the party.

Matara emphasized that without a valid, constitutionally recognized ADC National Convention or National Executive Committee (NEC) endorsement, no one possesses the legal or moral authority to speak for the party at the national level.

According to the stakeholders, key figures such as the NEC, state chairmen, youth leaders, and elected national officers were not involved in the decision to name Aregbesola as the Interim National Secretary.

They argue that portraying the ADC as the “platform of the National Opposition Coalition Group” is misleading, asserting that millions of members were neither informed nor included in the decision-making process.

They stated, “If anyone is attempting to force an opposition merger without grassroots consent, they are trampling on democratic ethics and party sovereignty.”

The group further warned that those joining the party under the current coalition arrangement should proceed cautiously, citing ongoing unresolved legal disputes stemming from the 2023 general elections.

“These matters remain in court and unresolved. Any coalition attempt built on such shaky legal ground is irresponsible and potentially self-destructive,” they noted.

The statement added, “We warn those coming into the ADC as part of this imposed arrangement to tread carefully. Be mindful that some few individuals are attempting to sell out the soul of our party for personal gain. The ADC is not for sale. It belongs to its members, not political merchants or elite dealmakers.”

President Bola Tinubu on Sunday concluded his tenure as Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government.

Following this, President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone was named as his successor.

Tinubu made the announcement during the 67th Ordinary Session of the Authority held at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.

He said, “It has been a profound honour and privilege to lead this esteemed body, and I remain deeply humbled by the trust and support you have extended to me throughout my channel as I now hand over the mantle of leadership to my great friend and dear brother, His Excellency, President Julius Bio of Sierra Leone.”

“I do so with a deep sense of fulfilment and of commitment for the future of West Africa.”

Before the handover, Tinubu voiced concern about the delay in activating the ECOWAS Standby Force and encouraged West African leaders to transition swiftly from planning to implementation in addressing terrorism and transnational crime.

“I am a little bit worried about the slow pace of its (ECOWAS Standby Force) activation, which is taking longer than desired,” the President said in his opening remarks.

In April 2024, Tinubu initially advocated for a regional standby force and a counter-terrorism centre to curb terrorism in Africa’s most vulnerable regions.

He described the counter-terrorism centre as a central point for intelligence sharing, coordination, and capacity building across the continent.

He identified ransom-taking and illegal mining as “evil branches” stemming from “root causes” such as poverty, inequality, and social injustice, which fund and sustain terrorist operations continent-wide.

“Key to our collective efforts against terrorism is the urgent need for a fully operational Regional Counter-Terrorism Centre,” Tinubu said at the African High-level Meeting on Counter-Terrorism in Abuja on April 22, 2024.

During the sixth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union in Ghana two months later, he noted that ECOWAS was considering alternative funding strategies for the $2.6 billion Standby Force.

In August of that year, he reaffirmed the commitment of member states to fund the force, labeling it a key solution to terrorism in the Sahel region.

However, a year later, Tinubu, reflecting on his leadership since July 2023, expressed dissatisfaction with the progress as security challenges persisted in the Sahel.

He emphasized the urgent need to make the force operational amid increasing insecurity throughout the region.

“The ECOWAS Standby Force must move from concept to operational reality. I am a little bit worried about the slow pace of its activation, which is taking longer than desired,” the President repeated.

He pointed out that the region’s threats were transnational, propelled by agile and dangerous groups that disregard borders.

“No single nation can, therefore, address these challenges alone. We must strengthen coordination, amplify political will, and prioritise a collective approach to secure it,” he said.

Tinubu highlighted key achievements during his leadership of ECOWAS.

He mentioned the completed ECOWAS Military Logistics Depot in Lungi, Sierra Leone, as a vital facility for supplying logistics and equipment to ECOWAS-deployed forces.

“Last February in Addis Ababa, Nigeria signed the Sixth Agreement with the African Union. With the depot’s completion, Nigeria is committing itself to sea-lift and air-lift arrangements with ECOWAS,” he said.

He expressed optimism that diplomatic efforts with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger would lead to their return to the ECOWAS community.

“Under my chairmanship, I deployed all diplomatic means to engage and dialogue with our brothers in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. I am confident that before too long, they may return to the family,” he said.

Tinubu urged for deeper economic cooperation, strengthening the private sector, and eliminating trade barriers to unlock the region’s full potential.

“Our intra-regional trade remains low, even as we possess the potential to be an economic powerhouse. We must create the enabling environment, empower the private sector, and create the conditions necessary for innovation to flourish,” he said.

He also called for rapid implementation of regional infrastructure projects, including the West African Gas Pipeline, West African Power Pool, and Abidjan–Lagos Corridor Highway, which he described as development and integration catalysts.

After the handover, President Bio praised Tinubu for building a strong base for regional dialogue, economic growth, and peacebuilding.

“I am humbled to build upon the strong foundation you have established,” he said, acknowledging Tinubu’s “experience and leadership.”

He noted that the region faced complex challenges such as terrorism, arms trafficking, political instability, and transnational crime, particularly in the Sahel and coastal states.

“The democratic space is under strain in parts of our region. In some countries, the constitutional order has been disrupted.

“Yet, across West Africa, citizens—especially our youth—are demanding not just elections, but also accountability, transparency, and a fair stake in national life,” he said.