The Nigerian Senate has removed Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from her role as Chairperson of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), further deepening speculation about her strained relationship with the chamber’s leadership.
The announcement was made by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Thursday’s plenary session. In her place, Senator Aniekan Bassey, representing Akwa Ibom North-East and a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has been appointed to lead the committee with immediate effect.
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“The new chairman is Distinguished Senator Aniekan Bassey, and it will take effect from today,” Akpabio stated on the Senate floor.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central under the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has now been stripped of any committee leadership role, having previously lost her position as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content earlier in February.
This latest development comes amid signs of internal reorganisation within the Senate. Akpabio disclosed plans for a broader review of vice chairmanships across committees to ensure equitable distribution of leadership responsibilities among lawmakers.
“Some senators are holding two vice chairmanships. We will review these positions next week so that every senator holds at least one leadership role,” Akpabio added.
Political observers say Akpoti-Uduaghan’s removal may not be unconnected to her frosty relations with Senate leadership. In March, she was suspended from legislative activities following an alleged altercation with Akpabio over seating arrangements — a move that sparked widespread debate over parliamentary decorum and gender representation.
With her ouster from yet another committee position, the once-rising PDP senator now finds herself without any official portfolio in the upper chamber, raising questions about her political standing within the 10th National Assembly.
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