In a move that has further deepened the crisis within Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has officially removed Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
The announcement, made on the Senate floor on Thursday, came without explanation—igniting fresh controversy surrounding the embattled lawmaker who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District.
Senator Bassey Aniekun Etim of Akwa Ibom East has been appointed as her replacement. The committee had remained without a chairperson since March 2024, following Akpoti-Uduaghan’s contentious suspension for six months—a move critics described as both vindictive and unconstitutional.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s removal comes on the heels of explosive allegations she made against Senate President Akpabio. In March, she filed a formal petition accusing him of sexual harassment, citing Senate Rule 40 to bring the matter before her colleagues. She had earlier spoken publicly about the alleged incident in an interview on Arise TV, which sparked a storm of reactions across the country.
The rift between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan reportedly began over a dispute regarding Senate seating arrangements but quickly escalated into a high-stakes political and personal battle.
According to the senator, Akpabio not only retaliated by stalling her motions on the Senate floor but also used his influence to orchestrate her suspension. Her husband, Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan, has since weighed in to mediate, but the conflict appears far from over.
Human rights watchdog, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has condemned her suspension and committee removal, describing them as “a blatant abuse of power” and “a violation of constitutional rights.”
In a strongly worded statement, SERAP urged Senate President Akpabio to immediately comply with a court order mandating the reinstatement of Akpoti-Uduaghan and the restoration of her full legislative privileges.
> “She should never have been suspended in the first place. Her suspension is a grave violation of the Nigerian Constitution and international treaties. The Senate must obey the rule of law,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned judgment in the legal challenge to her suspension until October 3, 2025—a date that could determine not just her political future but also set a precedent for legislative accountability and gender justice in Nigeria’s democracy.
The unfolding saga has reignited conversations about abuse of power, gender equity in politics, and the role of the judiciary in checking legislative excesses. As public pressure mounts and court proceedings continue, all eyes remain on the Senate and its embattled President.
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