Nigeria Senate Removes Female Senator from UN Women's Event
The Nigerian Senate has removed Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the country's delegation to the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in New York. The event runs March 9-19, 2026, focusing on women's access to justice and gender equality. Akpoti-Uduaghan claims she was excluded after submitting passport details late, despite earlier assurances from the Senate Committee on Women Affairs. Her replacement by male Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire has sparked controversy, as the event centers on women's issues. Critics argue this undermines Nigeria's commitment to women's political inclusion, especially given the country's low female parliamentary representation (under 5%). The Senate leadership cited concerns about Akpoti-Uduaghan potentially tarnishing Nigeria's image by raising controversial issues. This follows her previous sexual harassment allegation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.