Senate Drops Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from UN Women’s Forum Delegation, Replaces Her with Male Senator

The Nigerian Senate has removed Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the country’s delegation to the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in New York, replacing her with Ondo Central Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire. CSW70, running from March 9 to 19 at the United Nations headquarters, focuses on improving access to justice for women and girls and accelerating gender equality. Nigeria, like other member states, is expected to send a delegation to participate in negotiations on the session’s outcome.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was initially invited by the Ministry of Women Affairs to be part of Nigeria’s delegation and submitted the required passport details promptly. On February 25, she informed the Senate Committee on Appropriations that she had been told her submission was “late” and that she would no longer attend. Senator Ireti Kingibe, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, initially denied that Akpoti-Uduaghan had been removed and confirmed she had recommended her for the delegation after other female senators declined. Kingibe also assured Akpoti-Uduaghan that she would attend alongside her.

Despite these assurances, Akpoti-Uduaghan was excluded from the final delegation. In a March 5 letter, Kingibe cited pending sponsorship approval from the Ministry of Women Affairs, stating that only she and Senator Adegbonmire had officially registered to attend. A Senate staffer, speaking anonymously, told reporters that the leadership removed Akpoti-Uduaghan due to concerns she might raise controversial issues that could affect Nigeria’s image. Akpoti-Uduaghan previously made allegations of sexual harassment against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, which reportedly strained her relationship with the Senate leadership.

Critics argue that replacing a female senator with a male colleague at a women-focused UN forum reflects ongoing underrepresentation of women in Nigerian politics. Women hold fewer than 5% of seats in the National Assembly, one of the lowest rates in Africa, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Advocates say limited female representation contributes to repeated delays or failures to pass gender-focused legislation, including the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill and the Reserved Seats for Women Bill. The Senate has not issued a public explanation for the decision. Efforts to reach both Kingibe and Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu for comment were unsuccessful.