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Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan was removed from Nigeria's delegation list and replaced by a male senator, Adeniyi Adegbonmire, despite the event focusing on women’s issues.

The leadership of the Nigerian Senate has removed Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, from the country’s delegation to the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), currently being held in New York.

The event, which began on 9 March and will end on 19 March at the United Nations headquarters, focuses on improving access to justice for women and girls and accelerating gender equality. All member states will negotiate the outcome of the session.

Nigeria, like other member states, is expected to sponsor a delegation to participate in discussions and negotiations during the session. However, there are concerns over the country’s delegation list after one of the female senators initially expected to attend was removed and replaced by a male senator, despite the event focusing on women’s issues.

The issue
On 25 February, during a meeting of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan complained that she had been sidelined and removed from the list of delegates expected to attend the women’s event at the UN headquarters, even though she had submitted the required documents.


The senator explained that she was initially invited by the Ministry of Women Affairs to be part of Nigeria’s delegation and was asked to submit the photo page of her international passport.

She said she sent the requested passport details within a few hours, but later received a response from the ministry, stating that she would no longer be attending because the details were submitted late.

When the issue was raised during the committee meeting, the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Ireti Kingibe, denied that Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan had been removed from the delegation.

Mrs Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), explained that she had initially recommended Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Ministry of Women Affairs after two other female senators, Idiat Adebule (Lagos West) and Ipalibo Banigo (Rivers West), indicated that they were not interested in attending the event.

She assured Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan that she would be included in the delegation, adding that if she did not attend the event, she (Kingibe) would also not attend.

Akpoti-Uduaghan later dropped
Despite the earlier assurances, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan was eventually excluded from the final delegation list.

In a letter dated 5 March addressed to the Kogi senator, Mrs Kingibe explained that the Ministry of Women Affairs had yet to respond to the delegation’s sponsorship request.

However, Mrs Kingibe noted that the Senate had agreed to sponsor her and Ondo Central Senator, Adeniyi Adegbonmire, to attend the women’s event.

“For the sake of clarity, I can confirm that at this stage, only two members of the Senate have been officially nominated by the Senate President and have confirmed registration: myself, in my capacity as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, and Senator Adegbonmire Adeniyi Ayodele, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters. To the best of my knowledge, we are currently the only Senators whose attendance is finalised and registered,” the letter reads.

She apologised for any inconvenience the development might have caused and urged Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan to join the delegation personally if she already had a valid United States visa.

PREMIUM TIMES contacted Mrs Kingibe and the Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, to clarify the criteria for selecting delegates and explain why a male senator was included in the delegation to an event focused on women, at a time when Nigerian women are demanding greater political inclusion.

Mrs Kingibe did not respond to calls and messages as of the time of filing this report. Mr Adaramodu’s phone wasn’t connecting.

However, a staff member of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, who requested not to be named for fear of victimisation, told our reporter that the Senate leadership removed Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan from the delegation because of concerns that she might raise controversial issues at the event and potentially tarnish the country’s image.


The Kogi senator has not been in the good books of the Senate leadership since her sexual harassment allegation against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

Although the Senate leadership has the authority to decide who represents the country at international events, some critics argue that including a male senator at a forum dedicated to women’s issues does not portray Nigeria’s parliament as committed to women’s political inclusion.

Women in Nigeria have long complained about underrepresentation in political leadership and international engagements. Despite commitments by the government to promote gender inclusion, Nigeria remains one of the countries with the lowest female representation in parliament globally.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union ranks Nigeria among the lowest countries in Africa for women’s representation in parliament, with fewer than 5% of seats in the National Assembly held by women.

Some advocates are linking the low representation of women in parliament to Nigeria’s repeated failure to pass gender equality legislation, such as the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill and the Reserved Seats for Women Bill.

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/862830-senate-removes-akpoti-uduaghan-from-un-womens-event-delegation-replaces-her-with-male-senator.html

This senate is too vindictive and toxic for Natasha. She should run for the guber election of her state and leave the senate for these evil APC men if she wins

What do you expect from the worst Senate President in this country’s history?

when you are given a place of responsibility, you are expected to understand what is expected of you, but this female senator has shown that she lacks the capacity for responsibility to be placed on her shoulder, so when a more deserving person is given her expected role, I feel that is not too bad. Everything is not about beauty and sex allure.

Removing Senator Natasha is not the problem, the replacement should have been another woman 🤷🏽‍♂️

ajailer:
when you are given a place of responsibility, you are expected to understand what is expected of you, but this female senator has shown that she lacks the capacity for responsibility to be placed on her shoulder, so when a more deserving person is given her expected role, I feel that is not too bad. Everything is not about beauty and sex allure.

Coming from a shameless APC online propagandist.

Ofunaofu:
What do you expect from the worst Senate President in this country’s history?

this is very commendable from the Senate president, Natasha may go there and claim sexual harassment just to tanish the national assembly image

FatimaAbubakar:
Coming from a shameless APC online propagandist.

whatever that means, i hope it makes u sleep better tonite

GOOD,SHE TOO DO.

Senator Adegbonmire Adeniyi Ayodele, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters. To the best of my knowledge, we are currently the only Senators whose attendance is finalised and registered,” the letter reads.
And the male senator(transgendered) accepted to attend,from all indications some Nigerian politicians have mental problems.

Senator Adegbonmire Adeniyi Ayodele, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters. To the best of my knowledge, we are currently the only Senators whose attendance is finalised and registered,” the letter reads.
And the male senator(transgendered) accepted to attend,from all indications some Nigerian politicians have mental problems.A pity estacode will not kill your senses,because I have not seen the commonest in the senator

Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should do it.

Every decision has consequences.

No one stays in power forever.

You never know how tomorrow will look.

I don't know why this decision was made but the optics are not good for the Senate President neither are they good for Ireti Kingibe.

Useless senate president ever

When you refuses to learn how to use your mouth and mind in reasoning but chooses to always cause rancor...

Learn that no one is interested in someone who likes causing trouble except those who wants the destruction of the person and are profiting from the destruction.

Newsmills:
Senator Adegbonmire Adeniyi Ayodele, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters. To the best of my knowledge, we are currently the only Senators whose attendance is finalised and registered,” the letter reads.
And the male senator(transgendered) accepted to attend,from all indications some many Nigerian politicians have mental problems.

I helped you fix it... Thanks

President bring anything we agree senate.


Rubber stamp senate.

Akpabio strength come from this kogi woman

If you want to know akpabio is working, just bring any topic that has to do with Natasha

ajailer:
when you are given a place of responsibility, you are expected to understand what is expected of you, but this female senator has shown that she lacks the capacity for responsibility to be placed on her shoulder, so when a more deserving person is given her expected role, I feel that is not too bad. Everything is not about beauty and sex allure.

So why not replace her with another female since the event is mostly about women?

Is just like giving a man the position of minister of women affairs.

Abi u sef na Bwala version of Nairaland?

ajailer:
when you are given a place of responsibility, you are expected to understand what is expected of you, but this female senator has shown that she lacks the capacity for responsibility to be placed on her shoulder, so when a more deserving person is given her expected role, I feel that is not too bad. Everything is not about beauty and sex allure.

I agree with you . This woman has not put forward a shred of evidence that werey senate president sexually harassed her . The senate is right to deny her .
Now see women supporting women in the mud . Ireti said she will not go if Natasha is excluded . Seems she has backstabbed Natasha. On letting a man go , why not ? What is wrong with male representation at the event ? When no be international coven of witches

All because Akpabio could not have her in bed.

She'll mount there as a personal guess

Daniel Bwala yet to recover from the shock of his life

I am very surprised that Senator Natasha is still alive till now.

This is just crying foul.

Just because you're a female senator does not mean you have a relevance at the event. Between you and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters, who do you think will have more impact at an event that's focused on improving assess to justice for women and girls?

Everything is not witch hunting. Not like the Senate submitted her name and withdrew it, it's her fellow senator that was doing Cho Cho Cho and giving stupid assurances over what she has no control over.

essentialone:
I am very surprised that Senator Natasha is still alive till now.

A lot of you don't know the implications of your utterances. Keep it up.

Akpabio is a very petty human being, a calamity and always looking unsafe and immature.

This country is in a standstill is due Akpabio's kind of senate leadership.
Check all senators, including Oshemole they are all busy carrying woman, just like there leader Akpabio, while the country is roasting.

It's well. One day the bush meat will become the hunter

Ofunaofu:
What do you expect from the worst Senate President in this country’s history?

What are the criteria used to rate the best?

ajailer:
when you are given a place of responsibility, you are expected to understand what is expected of you, but this female senator has shown that she lacks the capacity for responsibility to be placed on her shoulder, so when a more deserving person is given her expected role, I feel that is not too bad. Everything is not about beauty and sex allure.

I love guys who sees through the smoke screen! Natasha should represent senate on sexual allegations drama not on issue of international repute.

The scallywags called SP is so petty and shallow in his thinking and doings

How did the senate president remove her? You don't know that the senate has committees and other leaders heading and handling other affairs?

All because of kpekus wey she no gree give una, upon all the kpekus wey una don chop for this life.
La wa oooooooooooo
Give me kpomo chop, l no gree
Wahalaaaaaa from there surplus

This thing make me remember year 2020, when Saudi Arabia host women conference, all the 209 plus attendee plus facilitators were all men..... 🤣😂😂😂😅😅😂😂🤣🤣🤣😂😂😅😅😂😂😂🤣🤣😂😂😅

Newsmills:
Senator Adegbonmire Adeniyi Ayodele, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters. To the best of my knowledge, we are currently the only Senators whose attendance is finalised and registered,” the letter reads.
And the male senator(transgendered) accepted to attend,from all indications some Nigerian politicians have mental problems.A pity estacode will not kill your senses,because I have not seen the commonest in the senator

If you like post this gibberish a million times, it'll ONLY makes you look trashy🗑️!