Akpabio replaces embattled Natasha as committee chairman

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has officially replaced Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), appointing Senator Aniekan Bassey of Cross River State as her successor.

The announcement was made at the close of yesterday’s plenary session, marking the latest development in a series of committee leadership changes involving the Kogi Central lawmaker.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was originally appointed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content following her swearing-in in November 2023.

However, on February 4, 2025, Akpabio effected a reshuffle of committee leadership, removing her from Local Content and reassigning her to chair the Committee on Diaspora and NGOs.

The exercise stirred controversy, with some observers suggesting political motives behind her removal.

Her tenure as Chair of the Diaspora and NGOs Committee was abruptly disrupted again when, on March 6, 2025, she was suspended for six months over alleged misconduct linked to confrontations during a seat reassigning process.

Though the suspension temporarily halted her committee activities, she remained the official chair until yesterday’s announcement.