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Breaking News: Senate Drops Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as Diaspora Committee Chair, Replaces Her with APC’s Aniekan Bassey
The Nigerian Senate has removed Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations, appointing Senator Aniekan Bassey (APC, Akwa Ibom North‑East) as her replacement.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio made the announcement during plenary on Thursday, marking yet another twist in the political journey of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan in the 10th National Assembly.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has faced a string of committee reshuffles since the beginning of the year. In February, she was removed from the influential Local Content Committee and reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs committee.
Her troubles deepened in March when she was suspended for six months by the Senate over allegations of disorderly conduct during plenary proceedings. Though a Federal High Court later ruled the suspension excessive and ordered her reinstatement, the certified copy of the judgment is yet to be released a delay that has left her return in limbo.
With the latest development, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s political future in the Red Chamber remains uncertain, even as her supporters continue to demand full compliance with the court’s ruling.