Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Biography: Early Life, Education, Career, Politics and Senate Journey
Natasha Hadiza Akpoti-Uduaghan (born 9 December 1979) is a Nigerian lawyer, social entrepreneur and politician who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate.
A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Natasha Akpoti became the first elected female senator from Kogi State after winning the Kogi Central senatorial election through the electoral tribunal and Court of Appeal process in 2023. She was subsequently sworn into the Senate in November 2023.
Before entering elective politics, Akpoti-Uduaghan worked as a lawyer in the energy sector and became known for her advocacy surrounding the revival of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex. She also founded the Builders Hub Impact Investment Program (BHiiP), an initiative focused on entrepreneurship, innovation and economic development.
Natasha Akpoti political career has included a 2019 bid for governor of Kogi State under the Social Democratic Party (SDP), a successful 2023 Senate campaign under the PDP, and a highly publicised dispute with the leadership of the Senate in 2025 that resulted in her suspension, court proceedings and a subsequent return to legislative duties.
As of 2026, Akpoti-Uduaghan remains the senator representing Kogi Central and has secured the PDP’s nomination for the 2027 Kogi Central senatorial election.
Natasha Akpoti Early Life and Family
Natasha Hadiza Akpoti-Uduaghan was born on 9 December 1979 in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. Natasha Akpoti is the second of four children and the only daughter of Dr. Jimoh Abdul Akpoti, a Nigerian medical doctor and politician from Kogi State, and Ludmila Kravchenko Rakitna, who was born in the Chernivtsi region of Ukraine.
Natasha Akpoti parents reportedly met while her father was studying medicine in the former Soviet Union. Her father studied at Bogomolets National Medical University, while her mother was from Ukraine.
Following her birth, Akpoti-Uduaghan spent much of her childhood in Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State, as well as neighbouring communities in Okene, Adavi and Ajaokuta.
In accounts of her childhood, Akpoti-Uduaghan has spoken about the influence of her father, particularly his philanthropic activities. She has attributed her interest in helping disadvantaged communities and promoting economic opportunities to lessons she learned from him.
Natasha Akpoti father died on 3 November 1998, after which Akpoti-Uduaghan and her family relocated to Abuja.
Natasha Akpoti Education
Akpoti-Uduaghan began her primary education at Christ the King School in Okene, Kogi State, where she spent several years and served as a social prefect.
She later attended Government Girls Unity Secondary School, Oboroke, before transferring to Federal Government College, Idoani, Ondo State. She completed her secondary education in 1997 and served as Head Girl.
After gaining admission to the University of Abuja, she studied Law and obtained her bachelor’s degree between 2000 and 2004.
She subsequently attended the Nigerian Law School in Bwari, Abuja, and was called to the Nigerian Bar on 8 November 2005.
Her legal and professional education continued overseas. She obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the University of Dundee in Scotland in 2011 and later completed an MBA in Oil and Gas Management in 2012.
She also undertook specialist training in the energy and petroleum sectors, including programmes covering international petroleum development contracts and the monitoring and regulation of upstream petroleum activities.
In 2016, she participated in the INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Programme in Singapore, where she studied approaches to developing sustainable and innovative solutions to social and economic problems.
Natasha Akpoti Legal Career
After being called to the Nigerian Bar, Akpoti-Uduaghan developed a career in corporate and energy-sector law.
From 2007 to 2010, she worked as a legal counsel at Brass LNG, an international gas liquefaction project in Nigeria.
During her time in the energy sector, she participated in professional development programmes relating to international gas business management, petroleum contracts and upstream petroleum regulation.
Her additional academic and professional training in energy, natural resources and business management later influenced her interest in Nigeria’s industrial and natural-resource sectors.
Social Entrepreneurship and Builders Hub
In 2015, Akpoti-Uduaghan founded the Builders Hub Impact Investment Program (BHiiP) as part of her transition into social entrepreneurship.
Through the initiative, she focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, local economic development and solutions to problems affecting underserved communities.
Her interest in building inclusive economies also extended to start-ups and technology-driven businesses. Her work with BHiiP contributed to partnerships involving organisations including the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).
One of the initiatives associated with the programme was the development of an integrated technology development and business growth hub in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, intended to support entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Ajaokuta Steel Advocacy
One of the major issues that brought Akpoti-Uduaghan to national attention before her entry into elective politics was her advocacy for the revival of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex in Kogi State.
She became an outspoken advocate for the development of Nigeria’s steel industry and argued for the economic importance of restoring Ajaokuta’s productive capacity.
On 1 March 2018, she presented an investigative report to the National Assembly concerning the Ajaokuta steel plant. The report generated controversy, with the then Ministry of Mines and Steel Development disputing aspects of her claims and accusing her of misinformation.
The dispute subsequently became the subject of legal proceedings. A Federal High Court proceeding in Abuja later resulted in an order requiring certain defendants to pay damages to Akpoti-Uduaghan over publications concerning her.
Her activism surrounding Ajaokuta also earned her recognition from the Nigerian Society of Engineers, which presented her with a presidential award in December 2017.
Entry Into Politics
Akpoti-Uduaghan formally entered electoral politics before becoming a senator.
In the 2019 Kogi State governorship election, she contested the governorship under the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Although she did not win the election, the campaign increased her political profile in Kogi State and established her as a prominent female political figure in the state.
She later joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and contested the Kogi Central senatorial seat in the 2023 general election.
2023 Kogi Central Senatorial Election
Akpoti-Uduaghan contested the Kogi Central Senatorial District election under the PDP in February 2023.
The initial result declared Abubakar Sadiku Ohere of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner. Akpoti-Uduaghan challenged the result through the legal process.
In September 2023, the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal declared Akpoti-Uduaghan the actual winner of the election and nullified Ohere’s victory. The tribunal found discrepancies in the recorded results, including alleged inflation of Ohere’s votes in several polling units and the reduction or omission of votes credited to Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Ohere appealed the decision, but the Court of Appeal in Abuja upheld the tribunal’s judgment on 31 October 2023 and declared Akpoti-Uduaghan the duly elected senator for Kogi Central.
She was subsequently sworn into the Nigerian Senate on 2 November 2023, becoming the first elected female senator from Kogi State.
Senator for Kogi Central
Following her swearing-in, Akpoti-Uduaghan became a member of the 10th National Assembly, representing the five local government areas that make up Kogi Central Senatorial District.
Her legislative interests have included economic development, infrastructure, entrepreneurship, women and youth empowerment, and issues relating to Nigeria’s natural resources and industrial development.
She has also promoted constituency-focused programmes involving areas such as education, digital learning, water supply, infrastructure and community development.
Dispute With Senate Leadership
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Senate career became the subject of national attention in 2025 following a dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In February 2025, she alleged during an interview that Akpabio had sexually harassed her in December 2023. Akpabio denied the allegation.
The dispute intensified on 20 February 2025, following a disagreement over her seating arrangement in the Senate chamber. Akpoti-Uduaghan protested after her assigned seat was changed and subsequently challenged the decision.
The Senate’s Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions considered the matter and recommended disciplinary action.
On 6 March 2025, the Senate suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months. The Senate cited alleged breaches of its standing orders and misconduct, including refusing to sit in her assigned seat, speaking without recognition and disruptive conduct. Akpoti-Uduaghan disputed the basis and fairness of the disciplinary action.
The sexual-harassment allegations remained contested: Akpoti-Uduaghan maintained her allegation, while Akpabio denied it and his legal representatives described it as false and unsubstantiated.
Court Proceedings Over Her Suspension
Akpoti-Uduaghan challenged her suspension in court.
On 4 July 2025, the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that although the Senate possessed disciplinary powers over its members, the six-month suspension was excessive and ordered her recall. The court also found her guilty of civil contempt over a social-media post made while litigation was ongoing and imposed a ₦5 million fine.
The Senate disputed the interpretation of the judgment and initially did not immediately reinstate Natasha Akpoti. Akpoti-Uduaghan was subsequently denied access to the National Assembly complex in July 2025 amid the continuing dispute.
Her six-month suspension formally ended in September 2025. After further discussions over her return, her Senate office was unsealed on 23 September 2025, allowing her to resume legislative duties. She later resumed plenary and took her designated seat in the chamber.
The legal dispute continued after her return.
In February 2026, the Court of Appeal upheld the Senate’s authority to suspend Akpoti-Uduaghan, ruling that the disciplinary action did not violate her constitutional or parliamentary rights. However, the appellate court also set aside the ₦5 million contempt fine and the related contempt proceedings.
The various legal proceedings surrounding the suspension have therefore involved separate questions concerning the Senate’s disciplinary powers, the circumstances of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension and the contempt proceedings arising from her social-media post.
Reported Attack on Family Home
In April 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan reported that armed men had attacked and vandalised her family’s home in Obeiba-Ihima, Kogi State.
According to a statement from Natasha Akpoti media team, the incident occurred on 16 April 2025 and security personnel intervened to repel the attackers. The property was described as a family residence that had belonged to her grandfather.
The incident formed part of the wider period of heightened public attention surrounding the senator and her political and legal disputes.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Peter Obi
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Peter Obi are Nigerian politicians whose political careers became particularly prominent during and after the 2023 general elections. Although they contested the 2023 elections under different political parties, both became prominent figures in Nigeria’s opposition political landscape.
Peter Obi contested the 2023 Nigerian presidential election as the candidate of the Labour Party, while Akpoti-Uduaghan contested the Kogi Central senatorial election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Obi’s 2023 campaign attracted significant national attention, while Akpoti-Uduaghan’s subsequent legal challenge over the Kogi Central senatorial result ultimately resulted in the Court of Appeal affirming her as the elected senator.
Their names have also appeared together at public political events. In November 2023, shortly after Akpoti-Uduaghan entered the Senate, both she and Peter Obi were among prominent Nigerian political figures who congratulated former Vice President and PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar on his 77th birthday.
The connection between the two politicians became more visible again in February 2026, when Akpoti-Uduaghan publicly called for an investigation into a reported attack involving Peter Obi and former APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun in Edo State. She condemned the reported incident and called on security agencies to investigate, warning that increasing political hostility could threaten Nigeria’s democratic stability.
While both politicians have participated in Nigeria’s opposition political discourse, their documented political affiliations have differed. Akpoti-Uduaghan is a member of the PDP, while Peter Obi has been associated with the Labour Party since leaving the PDP in 2022.
Therefore, their public connection is better described through their interactions and shared presence in Nigeria’s broader political space rather than as a formal party or political partnership.
Natasha Akpoti Activism and Advocacy
Beyond electoral politics, Akpoti-Uduaghan has been involved in advocacy relating to women, young people, entrepreneurship and civic participation.
Natasha Akpoti has spoken in favour of greater political and economic participation by women and has advocated for women’s stories to be documented and represented in digital spaces.
She has also encouraged young Nigerians to participate in democratic processes, including voter registration and the revalidation of their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs).
Natasha Akpoti advocacy has also focused on industrialisation, entrepreneurship, economic empowerment and the development of Nigeria’s human and natural resources.
Natasha Akpoti Personal Life
Akpoti-Uduaghan married at the age of 19 and has a son named Daniel.
She is married to Emmanuel Uduaghan, and the couple have appeared together publicly during her political career.
Her Nigerian-Ukrainian heritage has also formed part of her personal story. She has spoken publicly about growing up in Kogi State with a Ukrainian mother and navigating her multicultural background within her local community.
2027 Senate Re-election Bid
In April 2026, Akpoti-Uduaghan announced her intention to seek a second term as senator representing Kogi Central in the 2027 Nigerian general election.
In May 2026, she submitted her PDP nomination and expression-of-interest forms. The PDP subsequently affirmed her as its candidate for the Kogi Central senatorial district, and she received her Certificate of Return in June 2026.
Natasha Akpoti 2027 candidacy means that she is seeking to retain the Kogi Central Senate seat she first secured through the 2023 election dispute and subsequent Court of Appeal judgment.
Natasha Akpoti Awards and Recognition
Over the course of her professional and advocacy career, Akpoti-Uduaghan has received recognition for her work in social entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment and industrial development.
Among the recognitions associated with her career is a presidential award from the Nigerian Society of Engineers in 2017, linked to her advocacy concerning the Ajaokuta Steel Complex.
Natasha Akpoti has also participated in international programmes and professional development initiatives focused on social entrepreneurship, energy management, petroleum law and business strategy.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Career Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1979 | Born in Ilorin, Kwara State |
| 1997 | Completed secondary education at Federal Government College, Idoani |
| 2000–2004 | Studied Law at the University of Abuja |
| 2005 | Called to the Nigerian Bar |
| 2007–2010 | Worked as legal counsel at Brass LNG |
| 2011 | Obtained LL.M. from the University of Dundee |
| 2012 | Obtained MBA in Oil and Gas Management |
| 2015 | Founded Builders Hub Impact Investment Program |
| 2016 | Participated in INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Programme |
| 2017 | Received recognition from the Nigerian Society of Engineers for Ajaokuta advocacy |
| 2018 | Presented an investigative report on Ajaokuta to the National Assembly |
| 2019 | Contested the Kogi State governorship election under the SDP |
| 2023 | Contested Kogi Central Senate seat under the PDP |
| 2023 | Election tribunal and Court of Appeal declared her winner |
| November 2023 | Sworn into the Nigerian Senate |
| March 2025 | Suspended by the Senate for six months |
| July 2025 | Federal High Court ordered her recall and imposed a ₦5 million contempt fine |
| September 2025 | Returned to legislative duties after her suspension ended |
| February 2026 | Court of Appeal upheld the Senate’s disciplinary power but set aside the contempt fine |
| April 2026 | Declared intention to seek a second Senate term |
| June 2026 | Received PDP Certificate of Return for the 2027 Kogi Central Senate election |
Frequently Asked Questions About Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
Who is Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan?
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is a Nigerian lawyer, social entrepreneur and politician who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate. She is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party and the first elected female senator from Kogi State.
How old is Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan?
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was born on 9 December 1979.
Where is Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from?
She was born in Ilorin, Kwara State, and has roots in Ihima in Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State through her Nigerian father, Dr. Jimoh Abdul Akpoti.
What is Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s profession?
She is a lawyer, social entrepreneur and politician. Before entering politics, she worked in the energy sector, including as legal counsel at Brass LNG.
What did Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan study?
She studied Law at the University of Abuja, obtained an LL.M. from the University of Dundee, and later earned an MBA in Oil and Gas Management from the University of Dundee.
When did Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan become a senator?
She was sworn into the Nigerian Senate on 2 November 2023 after the Court of Appeal affirmed her victory in the Kogi Central senatorial election.
What political party does Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan belong to?
She is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Was Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan suspended from the Senate?
Yes. The Senate suspended Natasha Akpoti for six months on 6 March 2025 following a disciplinary process concerning alleged breaches of Senate rules. She resumed legislative duties after the suspension period ended in September 2025.
Is Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan contesting the 2027 election?
Yes. In 2026, she declared her intention to seek re-election to the Senate for Kogi Central and subsequently received the PDP’s Certificate of Return as its candidate for the 2027 senatorial election.
Conclusion
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s career spans law, energy-sector work, social entrepreneurship, industrial advocacy and politics. Her advocacy for the Ajaokuta Steel Complex helped establish her public profile before she entered electoral politics, while her 2023 election and subsequent legal victory made her the first elected female senator from Kogi State.
Her tenure in the 10th National Assembly has been marked by both legislative and constituency-focused activities as well as a major institutional dispute involving the Senate leadership, suspension proceedings and several court cases.
Following her return to legislative duties in 2025 and subsequent appellate proceedings in 2026, she remains the representative of Kogi Central in the Senate and is the PDP candidate for the district’s 2027 senatorial election.
