President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has removed Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from her position as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), marking her second committee ouster in just five months. The latest shakeup was confirmed on Wednesday, July 10, 2025, during plenary, intensifying political speculations surrounding internal Senate politics and alignments.
Senator Natasha, who represents Kogi Central, was first stripped of her role as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content in February 2025. She was later reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee — a move that was seen by many as a political compromise. With this latest development, she now holds no chairmanship position, an unusual position for a first-time Senator whose political profile has gained prominence nationally.
Her replacement, Senator Aniekan Bassey of Akwa Ibom North East, is a close ally of Senate President Akpabio and a former Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. Political watchers view this as a strategic consolidation of influence within the Senate leadership, especially as the National Assembly gears up for budget negotiations and more intense legislative oversight in the coming months.
The removal has sparked sharp reactions across political divides, particularly among women’s rights advocates and opposition voices who see the move as a deliberate attempt to sideline one of the few high-profile female senators in Nigeria’s 10th National Assembly. Natasha’s allies accuse the Senate leadership of bias, noting that her committee performance reports have been above average.
While no official reason was given for the sudden shake-up, multiple sources within the Senate hinted at growing discomfort with Senator Natasha’s independent political posture and vocal advocacy, which often ran counter to the dominant leadership bloc. Some insiders claim that her rising popularity, especially among diaspora groups and civil society, may have rattled entrenched interests.
Back in 2023, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan made history by becoming the first woman elected to represent Kogi Central in the Senate, following a landmark ruling by the Court of Appeal which overturned the earlier declaration of her opponent. Since then, she has been vocal on issues ranging from local governance reforms to diaspora engagement — making her one of the most visible newcomers in the Red Chamber.
With this development, Natasha joins the growing list of lawmakers who have lost key positions under Akpabio’s leadership, raising fresh questions about transparency, gender inclusion, and the balance of power within Nigeria’s legislative arm. As the political heat builds, all eyes are now on Senator Natasha’s next move — whether she will remain within Senate corridors quietly or push back with the defiant streak that has long defined her political journey.
