The Nigerian Senate has removed Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) from the country's official delegation to the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), sparking controversy over female representation at a global forum dedicated to women's rights and gender equality.
The CSW70 session, which runs from March 9 to March 19, 2026, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, focuses on enhancing access to justice for women and girls while accelerating progress toward gender equality. Member states, including Nigeria, send delegations to participate in discussions and negotiate outcomes.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was initially invited by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to join Nigeria's delegation and promptly submitted the requested photo page of her international passport. However, she was later informed that her participation was no longer possible due to alleged late submission of documents.
The issue surfaced publicly on February 25, 2026, during a meeting of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, where Akpoti-Uduaghan raised concerns about being sidelined. Senator Ireti Kingibe (FCT), Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, initially denied the exclusion and assured her inclusion. Kingibe explained that she had recommended Akpoti-Uduaghan after two other female senators, Idiat Adebule (Lagos West) and Ipalibo Banigo (Rivers West), declined to attend. She even pledged to boycott the event if Akpoti-Uduaghan was left out.
Despite these assurances, Akpoti-Uduaghan was ultimately excluded from the final delegation. In a letter dated March 5, 2026, addressed to the Kogi Central senator, Kingibe clarified that only two senators had been officially nominated by the Senate President and registered: herself and Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire (Ondo Central), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters.
Kingibe noted that the Ministry of Women Affairs had not yet finalized sponsorship or broader arrangements. She apologized for any inconvenience and suggested that Akpoti-Uduaghan could attend independently if she held a valid U.S. visa.
The inclusion of a male senator in one of the limited Senate-sponsored slots has drawn criticism, especially given the event's focus on women's issues and ongoing calls for greater political inclusion of women in Nigeria. The country has only a handful of female senators, making Akpoti-Uduaghan's exclusion particularly notable.
Efforts to obtain clarification from Kingibe and Senate spokesperson Senator Yemi Adaramodu were unsuccessful, as Kingibe did not respond to calls or messages, and Adaramodu's phone was unreachable.
An anonymous staff member from the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, speaking on condition of anonymity due to fear of victimization, told reporters that the Senate leadership removed Akpoti-Uduaghan over concerns she might raise controversial issues during the event, potentially damaging Nigeria's image.
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