A fresh controversy has erupted within Nigeria’s Senate over the country’s delegation to the 2026 session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nations in New York, with allegations that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was edged out of the official delegation despite earlier indications that she was being prepared for the trip.
The development has drawn attention as the global women’s conference commences today in New York, bringing together government officials, activists, and policymakers from around the world to discuss gender equality and women’s empowerment.
At the center of the unfolding drama is the Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, Ireti Heebah Kingibe, who also serves as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs.
Kingibe had earlier taken a firm stance during a Senate budget presentation session, reportedly warning that she would boycott the international conference if Akpoti-Uduaghan was excluded from the delegation.
According to sources present at the session, Kingibe stated:
“If Senator Natasha Akpoti is not going to attend the program, it means I am not going to attend too.”
The remark was widely interpreted within the National Assembly as a show of solidarity with the Kogi Central senator.
However, subsequent developments have raised new questions.
In a letter dated March 5, 2026, addressed to Akpoti-Uduaghan, Kingibe explained that only two senators had been officially nominated and registered to attend the CSW event.
“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 stated.
Kingibe also noted that the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs had yet to finalize the broader list of delegates or complete travel and accommodation arrangements for the delegation.
However, documents and messages circulating online suggest that Akpoti-Uduaghan may have initially been considered for participation in the event.
A WhatsApp message allegedly sent by an aide linked to Kingibe shows a request asking the Personal Assistant to Senator Natasha to provide the “principal’s data page”—a reference to her international passport—for the CSW program in New York.
The message read:
“Good afternoon ma’am… Please we need your principal’s data page for CSW New York.”
Shortly afterward, an image of an international passport data page was reportedly forwarded in response.
The revelation has fueled speculation within political circles about what may have changed between the early preparations and the final list of nominees.
The situation has also sparked debate about representation at a global conference specifically dedicated to women’s issues.
Nigeria currently has very few female senators in the National Assembly, including Kingibe and Akpoti-Uduaghan. Critics therefore question why one of the two Senate-sponsored slots for a women-focused international conference was allocated to a male lawmaker while another female senator was reportedly left out.
Analysts argue that, given the nature of the conference, priority might ordinarily be given to female legislators actively involved in gender advocacy.
Meanwhile, in the same letter, Kingibe advised Akpoti-Uduaghan that she could still attend the event 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, however, that access to the United Nations building would depend strictly on formal accreditation handled by the Ministry of Women Affairs.
With the CSW conference already commencing today, the controversy has now placed the spotlight on both the Senate leadership and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs over the process used to select Nigeria’s representatives to the global women’s summit.
The unfolding dispute could deepen tensions within the Senate and spark broader debate about transparency, fairness, and gender representation in Nigeria’s participation at international policy forums.
