Nigeria’s Senate is under scrutiny after Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was reportedly removed from the official delegation to the 2026 United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York, with a male senator taking her place.
The controversy erupted as the global women’s conference kicked off on March 9, spotlighting gender equality and women’s empowerment. Senator Ireti Heebah Kingibe, Chair of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, had earlier threatened to boycott the event in solidarity with Akpoti-Uduaghan if she was excluded.
Documents and WhatsApp messages suggest Akpoti-Uduaghan was initially considered for the delegation, with aides requesting her passport details for registration. However, a March 5 letter from Kingibe stated that only two senators—Kingibe herself and Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire—had been officially nominated and registered.
Critics question why a male lawmaker was prioritised over one of the few female senators for a women-focused conference. Kingibe indicated that Akpoti-Uduaghan could still attend independently if she had a valid U.S. visa, but access would depend on formal accreditation by the Ministry of Women Affairs.
The episode has raised broader concerns about transparency, fairness, and female representation in Nigeria’s participation at global policy forums.