Akpabio Removes Natasha As Diaspora Committee Chair, Names Replacement
The Senate on Thursday removed Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from her current Committee on Diaspora and replaced her with Senator Aniekan Bassey, who represents Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
The decision was announced during plenary with no official reason given for the change. Senator Bassey is expected to assume duties immediately.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, was appointed chair of the Diaspora and NGOs Committee on February 4, 2025, following her earlier removal as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content.
Her latest removal marks another slight reshuffling within the Senate committee leadership.
Although no reason was given for her removal on Thursday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, she said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central—it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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