Senate Removes Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan from UN Women’s CSW70 Delegation

The Nigerian Senate removed Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from its delegation to the 70th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in New York. She was invited by the Ministry of Women Affairs and submitted her passport details on time, but later learned she had been replaced by Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire. During a Senate Committee on Appropriations meeting, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was sidelined despite assurances from Committee Chairperson Ireti Kingibe. Kingibe had recommended her after other female senators declined and even threatened to boycott if Akpoti-Uduaghan was excluded. Yet the final list named only Kingibe and Adegbonmire as delegates. Officials cite a lack of sponsorship response from the Ministry and concerns that Akpoti-Uduaghan might raise controversial issues at the forum. Critics argue that replacing a female senator with a male at a women’s rights event undermines Nigeria’s commitment to gender equality. Nigeria remains among the lowest globally for female parliamentary representation.

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