In a move that has sparked controversy and criticism, the Nigerian Senate has removed Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the country’s official delegation to the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in New York and replaced her with a male senator, Adeniyi Adegbonmire. The CSW event is a global forum focused on gender equality, women’s empowerment, and women’s rights.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, was initially expected to be part of the delegation and had submitted her passport details as requested. However, her name was later omitted from the official list of delegates, with the Senate leadership stating that only two senators were formally nominated and registered to attend the event.
In a letter dated March 5, 2026, the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Senator Ireti Kingibe, explained that the federal Ministry of Women Affairs had not finalized the full delegation, and only her and Senator Adegbonmire’s names were submitted and registered officially.
Reacting to her exclusion, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan described the decision as unfair and contradictory to earlier communications. She rejected claims that her response was late, emphasizing that she had promptly provided all required information. She also highlighted the symbolic importance of her participation, noting that Nigeria currently has only four female senators in the 10th Senate.
The removal has drawn criticism from political commentators and civil society, questioning why a male senator was prioritized over a female senator for an event focused on women’s rights. Many argue that such decisions undermine efforts to promote women’s representation and may discourage female participation in politics.
Observers also note that this development comes against a backdrop of prior tensions between Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate leadership, including a six-month suspension in 2025 following a clash with former Senate President Godswill Akpabio over procedural disputes. Critics suggest that lingering political disagreements may have influenced her removal from the delegation.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and her supporters have called for greater transparency in the selection of delegates to international forums, stressing that women’s representation should be prioritized in gender-focused events.
