Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central, has alleged that she was excluded from Nigeria’s delegation to the 2026 session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York.
In a statement from her media office, the lawmaker said she
was left out despite earlier indications that she was being prepared for the
trip.
The event is expected to bring together government
officials, activists, and policymakers from across the world.
Ireti Kingibe, senator representing the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT) and chairperson of the senate committee on women affairs, is at
the centre of the controversy.
During a senate budget presentation session, Kingibe
reportedly warned that she would boycott the conference if Akpoti-Uduaghan was
excluded from the delegation.
“If Senator Natasha Akpoti is not going to attend the
programme, it means I am not going to attend too,” she said.
The remark was widely interpreted within the national
assembly as an expression of solidarity with the Kogi central lawmaker.
‘ONLY TWO SENATORS NOMINATED’
However, in a letter dated March 5, Kingibe informed
Akpoti-Uduaghan that only two senators had been officially nominated and
registered for the conference.
“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 and Senator Adeniyi
Adegbonmire,” the letter reads.
Kingibe added that the federal ministry of women affairs had
yet to finalise the broader list of delegates or conclude travel and
accommodation arrangements for the Nigerian team.
Documents circulating online suggest that Akpoti-Uduaghan
may have initially been considered for the trip.
A WhatsApp message allegedly sent by an aide linked to
Kingibe requested the international passport data page of the Kogi central
senator.
“Good afternoon ma’am… Please we need your principal’s data
page for CSW New York,” the message reads.
An image of an international passport data page was
reportedly sent shortly after the request.
Nigeria currently has only four female senators in the
national assembly, including Kingibe and Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Others are Idiat Adebule, senator representing Lagos west,
and Ipalibo Banigo, senator representing Rivers west.
In the letter, Kingibe advised Akpoti-Uduaghan that she
could still attend the conference independently if she already possessed a
valid United States visa.
“While the official Ministry-sponsored list remains pending,
please be advised that if you already possess a valid United States visa and
wish to attend independently, you are most welcome to join the delegation in
New York,” she wrote.
She added that access to the United Nations complex would
depend on formal accreditation handled by the ministry of women affairs.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central,
has alleged that she was excluded from Nigeria’s delegation to the 2026 session
of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York.
In a statement from her media office, the lawmaker said she
was left out despite earlier indications that she was being prepared for the
trip.
The event is expected to bring together government
officials, activists, and policymakers from across the world.
Ireti Kingibe, senator representing the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT) and chairperson of the senate committee on women affairs, is at
the centre of the controversy.
During a senate budget presentation session, Kingibe
reportedly warned that she would boycott the conference if Akpoti-Uduaghan was
excluded from the delegation.
“If Senator Natasha Akpoti is not going to attend the
programme, it means I am not going to attend too,” she said.
The remark was widely interpreted within the national
assembly as an expression of solidarity with the Kogi central lawmaker.
‘ONLY TWO SENATORS NOMINATED’
However, in a letter dated March 5, Kingibe informed
Akpoti-Uduaghan that only two senators had been officially nominated and
registered for the conference.
“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 and Senator Adeniyi
Adegbonmire,” the letter reads.
Kingibe added that the federal ministry of women affairs had
yet to finalise the broader list of delegates or conclude travel and
accommodation arrangements for the Nigerian team.
Documents circulating online suggest that Akpoti-Uduaghan
may have initially been considered for the trip.
A WhatsApp message allegedly sent by an aide linked to
Kingibe requested the international passport data page of the Kogi central
senator.
“Good afternoon ma’am… Please we need your principal’s data
page for CSW New York,” the message reads.
An image of an international passport data page was
reportedly sent shortly after the request.
Nigeria currently has only four female senators in the
national assembly, including Kingibe and Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Others are Idiat Adebule, senator representing Lagos west,
and Ipalibo Banigo, senator representing Rivers west.
In the letter, Kingibe advised Akpoti-Uduaghan that she
could still attend the conference independently if she already possessed a
valid United States visa.
“While the official Ministry-sponsored list remains pending,
please be advised that if you already possess a valid United States visa and
wish to attend independently, you are most welcome to join the delegation in
New York,” she wrote.
She added that access to the United Nations complex would
depend on formal accreditation handled by the ministry of women affairs.
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