The Senate under the leadership of Godswill Akpabio removed Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced that Senator Aniekan Bassey, representing Akwa Ibom North-East, would replace her with immediate effect.
This marks the second time the first-term senator from Kogi Central, elected on the Peoples Democratic Party platform, has been stripped of a committee leadership role during the current assembly. Earlier this year, she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content before being reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs committee.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s removal follows her suspension in March 2025 over allegations of gross misconduct after a confrontation with the Senate President during plenary. Although a Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement, the Senate has yet to act on the ruling, citing the absence of a certified copy of the judgment. The senator has maintained she awaits the official court documents before resuming her duties.
Senate President Akpabio also indicated plans to reorganize committee vice chairmanships to ensure equitable representation among senators, noting some hold multiple vice chair positions. He emphasized the goal that every senator should serve as either a chairman or vice chairman to balance leadership roles.
The removal of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has sparked discussions on the implications for democratic representation, particularly as she is one of only three female senators in the current assembly. The ongoing legal and political tussle underscores tensions within the Senate leadership and highlights calls for adherence to court rulings and institutional fairness.
