Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) Chairperson Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was removed from her office on Thursday, July 10, 2025, by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The Senate plenary session was the site of the decision, marking the latest in a series of leadership changes within Senate committees.
Appointed to lead the Diaspora and NGOs Committee earlier this year, on February 4, 2025, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan represented Kogi Central on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform. This nomination came after Akpabio reshuffled the Senate in February 2025, removing her from her position as chairperson of the Committee on Local Content.
The first-term senator, who had been rising to prominence in the senate, suffered a major blow when she was removed from all committee chairmanships on Thursday. In making the statement, the Senate President did not formally state why she was removed.
The Diaspora and NGOs Committee has a new chairperson: Senator Aniekan Bassey of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), who represents the Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District. A quick shift in leadership was signaled by Akpabio's announcement that the move would be effective immediately.
The selection of Aniekan Bassey is a step toward a more fair allocation of leadership responsibilities among senators and is part of a larger effort to shuffle committee posts. Noting that some senators now have two vice chairmanship posts while others hold none, Akpabio further said that a review of vice chairmanships would be conducted in the coming week to guarantee justice.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s time as committee head has not been without controversy. In March 2025, she was suspended by the Senate amid allegations of gross misconduct, reportedly following a dispute with Senate President Akpabio over seating arrangements in the chamber. This episode exposed tensions between the senator and the Senate leadership.
Her resignation from the Local Content Committee chairperson in February and subsequent appointment to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee was perceived by some political analysts as a demotion. The latest expulsion severely undermines her status inside the Senate leadership structure.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s dismissal has raised concerns about the political dynamics inside the Senate and the larger ramifications for representation from Kogi State and the Southeast region. As a PDP senator in a legislature controlled by the APC, her expulsion illustrates the problems encountered by opposition lawmakers in gaining and keeping crucial leadership responsibilities.
The selection of Senator Aniekan Bassey, an APC member from Akwa Ibom State, illustrates the governing party’s consolidation of committee leadership posts. This action may be regarded as an attempt to boost the APC’s influence in crucial committees, especially those dealing with diaspora affairs and NGOs, which are essential for Nigeria’s foreign connections and civil society involvement.
Senate President Akpabio’s remark hinted at more revisions in committee leadership, notably with vice chairmanships. The purpose is to guarantee that every senator either has a chairperson or a vice chairmanship post, creating a more equitable allocation of authority and duties within the chamber.
This shift comes amid continuing attempts by the Senate leadership to simplify operations and boost legislative performance. It also illustrates the political reality of handling multiple interests and party connections inside Nigeria’s upper legislative house.
The departure of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has drawn conflicting responses from political experts, media pundits, and constituents. Some perceive the move as a conventional political realignment characteristic of legislative bodies, while others see it as a reflection of deeper political tensions and power struggles inside the Senate.
Supporters of Akpoti-Uduaghan have expressed dismay, stressing her efforts and the symbolic value of her leadership responsibilities for women and minority participation in the Senate. Critics say that her departure is reasonable given the past misbehavior charges and the necessity for coherent leadership in sensitive panels.
With Senator Aniekan Bassey now the chair of the Diaspora and NGOs Committee, attention will be on his agenda and how he proposes to guide the committee’s activities. The committee plays a significant role in supervising problems connected to Nigerians living abroad, diaspora participation, and the regulation and support of non-governmental organizations functioning inside the nation.
Meanwhile, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s political future remains unknown. Without a committee chairmanship, her influence in the Senate may be diminished unless she achieves other leadership posts or uses her legislative efforts to retain relevance.
The dismissal of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs by Senate President Godswill Akpabio is a major step in Nigeria’s legislative landscape. It emphasizes continuous political realignments within the Senate and underscores the difficulty of balancing party interests, regional representation, and individual behavior.
As the Senate continues to reorganize committee leadership to enhance fairness and effectiveness, the impact of these changes on legislative objectives and governance will be widely studied by stakeholders throughout Nigeria.
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