Senator Natasha Akpoti Excluded from UN Conference Delegation

Senator Natasha Akpoti's name was unexpectedly removed from Nigeria's delegation to the United Nations conference on the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) scheduled for March 5, 2026, in New York. This decision has sparked controversy within political circles.

Senator Ireti Kingibe, the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, had previously indicated that Akpoti and Senator Uduaghan were expected to participate in the delegation. However, it was reported that Akpoti would not attend the event.

A letter dated March 5, 2026, from Senator Kingibe informed Akpoti and Uduaghan that two Senate officials had been nominated and registered for the conference, with the final list of delegates still pending confirmation from the Senate President. Additionally, there were communications regarding the need for passport data for the conference, which have led to speculation about the reasons behind Akpoti's exclusion.