KEY POINTS

• Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was omitted from Nigeria’s Senate delegation to the 2026 UN Commission on the Status of Women conference in New York.
• The Senate officially nominated Senators Ireti Kingibe and Adeniyi Adegbonmire as its representatives.
• The decision has sparked controversy, especially after earlier indications suggested Akpoti-Uduaghan would be part of the delegation.

A fresh controversy has emerged in Nigeria’s Senate following the omission of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, from Nigeria’s official delegation to the 2026 session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

The CSW, one of the world’s largest annual gatherings focused on gender equality and women’s empowerment, convened global leaders, policymakers, and activists this week to discuss strategies for advancing women’s rights and promoting gender-inclusive development.

The development has triggered debate within political and civil society circles after earlier indications suggested that Akpoti-Uduaghan would be among the Nigerian lawmakers attending the international conference.

Only Two Senators Officially Nominated

Documents indicate that the Nigerian Senate formally nominated only two lawmakers for the event: Senator Ireti Kingibe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, and Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire.

The confirmation was contained in a letter dated March 5, 2026, which listed the two legislators as the officially registered participants representing the Nigerian Senate at the UN conference.

The decision has drawn criticism from some observers who question why one of the two slots allocated to the Senate was given to a male legislator, particularly for a global forum specifically dedicated to women’s issues.

Prior to the announcement, there were indications that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan might be part of the delegation.

Documents circulating online include a WhatsApp message allegedly sent by an aide associated with Senator Kingibe, requesting a copy of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s international passport data page for processing her participation in the conference.

This has fueled speculation that the Kogi Central lawmaker was initially considered but later excluded from the final list of delegates.

Earlier reports also suggested that Senator Kingibe had threatened to boycott the event if Akpoti-Uduaghan was not included in the delegation.

Adding to the controversy, a video circulating widely on social media shows Kingibe reportedly assuring Akpoti-Uduaghan that she would be included in the trip.

The apparent contradiction between those assurances and the final nomination has intensified public scrutiny and sparked debate over transparency in the selection process.