The Nigerian Senate has appointed Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations, replacing Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who remains on suspension.
The announcement was made by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Thursday’s plenary session.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, was originally reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February 2025 following her removal as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Senator Bassey, who now takes over the role, represents Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Though the Senate gave no official reason for the leadership change, it is widely believed to be linked to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s ongoing suspension. In May 2025, the Federal High Court declared her suspension “excessive and unconstitutional” and ordered her reinstatement, also directing her to apologise to the Senate.
However, the Senate has maintained that it has not received a certified true copy (CTC) of the court judgment, thereby delaying compliance with the ruling.
Akpoti-Uduaghan has yet to return to her legislative duties. In a recent interview, she explained that she was awaiting the official CTC of the court ruling on the advice of her legal team, insisting she was committed to due process.
A legal opinion reportedly issued by Senate counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argues that the ruling lacked a binding enforcement clause, further complicating the matter.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current National Assembly—down from eight in the previous assembly—criticised her continued exclusion from the Senate, describing it as a violation of democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central—it’s denying Nigerian women and children a voice. We are now only three female senators,” she said.
The situation continues to draw attention to the broader issues of gender representation, parliamentary procedure, and the limits of judicial oversight over legislative decisions.
