Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan Critiques Senate's Gender Inclusivity

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan raised concerns during a Senate plenary session on Thursday regarding her exclusion from significant Senate activities, particularly those related to women's affairs. She accused the leadership of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, specifically Ireti Kingibe, of failing to include female lawmakers in important decisions affecting women's advocacy.

Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed disappointment over the poor coordination of matters involving women-focused programs in the Senate and questioned the unity among female senators. She highlighted her exclusion from a delegation to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women meeting in New York, where she was initially invited but later informed that she would not be part of the delegation despite her prompt submission of required documents.

This situation drew attention to ongoing debates within the Senate's women caucus regarding transparency and inclusivity in selecting delegates for international conferences. Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasized the need for improved communication among colleagues to strengthen the collective voice of women in the legislature.