Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been officially removed as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), following a leadership reshuffle announced on Thursday, 10 July 2025. Senate President Godswill Akpabio confirmed her replacement with Senator Aniekan Bassey, representing Akwa Ibom North-East.
The Senate offered no formal explanation for the change, but political observers link the move to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s ongoing suspension from the Senate. The Kogi Central lawmaker had been suspended for six months earlier in the year over allegations of misconduct related to a heated confrontation during a committee reshuffle.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was initially appointed Chair of the Local Content Committee, before being reassigned to Diaspora and NGOs on 4 February 2025. Her reassignment followed internal disagreements within the Senate leadership.
Though a Federal High Court later ruled her suspension excessive and ordered her reinstatement, the Senate has maintained that it has yet to receive a certified copy of the court ruling, further fuelling speculation around political undercurrents within the upper chamber.
The development has triggered mixed reactions, especially from her supporters who view her removal as politically motivated. Civil society groups have also expressed concern over what they describe as a troubling trend of silencing dissenting voices within Nigeria’s legislature.
Efforts to get comments from the Senate leadership and Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s office were unsuccessful as of press time.
