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| Akpoti-Uduaghan |
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (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.
A statement from her media office noted that the lawmaker had been earmarked for the trip, with preparations underway, before the apparent reversal.
The CSW brings together government officials, activists, and policymakers worldwide to address gender equality issues.
The controversy centres on Senator Ireti Kingibe (FCT), chair of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs. During a Senate budget presentation, Kingibe reportedly stated she would boycott the conference if Akpoti-Uduaghan was not included.
“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.
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, according to a report of TheCable.
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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