Updated: Senate strips Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan of committee chair, appoints Bassey as replacement

In a significant reshuffle, the Senate has appointed Sen. Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, replacing Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the appointment of the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District during Thursday’s plenary.

Persecondnews had reported that Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to chair the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February, following her removal as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content in a minor reshuffle.

Although no reason was given for her removal on Thursday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.

Persecondnews recalls that Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court on Friday, July 4, ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.

However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.

Despite the court ruling that nullified her suspension, Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties.

In a televised interview on Tuesday, she said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.

“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central—it is denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.

Although the court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Mr. Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.

Akpoti-Uduaghan had gone to court after a confrontation with Senate President Akpabio on February 20, during which she was not allowed to speak and subsequently referred to the Senate Ethics Committee, leading to her suspension.