A new controversy has arisen in the Senate concerning Nigeria's delegation to the 2026 session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) taking place in New York. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has claimed that she was left out of the official delegation, despite earlier indications that she was being considered for the trip.
The disagreement became apparent as the global conference focused on gender equality and women's empowerment commenced on Monday in New York, attracting government officials, activists, and policymakers from around the world.
Central to the controversy is Senator Ireti Heebah Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory and chairs the Senate Committee on Women Affairs. During a Senate budget presentation session, she reportedly declared that she would withdraw from attending the international conference if Akpoti-Uduaghan was not included in the delegation.
Kingibe is quoted as saying, "If Senator Natasha Akpoti is not going to attend the programme, it means I am not going to attend too," a statement that was seen within the National Assembly as showing support for the Kogi Central senator.
However, subsequent developments suggested a shift in that stance. In a letter dated March 5, 2026, which was seen by THISDAY, Kingibe stated that only two senators had been officially nominated and registered for the CSW meeting by the Senate leadership.
“To clarify, only two members of the Senate have been officially nominated by the Senate President and have confirmed registration at this point: myself and Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire,” the letter indicated.
Kingibe further disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs had not yet finalized the complete list of delegates or concluded travel and accommodation plans for the Nigerian team.
Despite this, documents and messages circulating online indicate that Akpoti- Uduaghan may have been considered for the trip initially. One WhatsApp message purportedly sent by an aide associated with Kingibe requested the “principal’s data page,” meaning Akpoti-Uduaghan’s international passport information for the CSW programme in New York.
The message read: “Good afternoon ma’am… Please we need your principal’s data page for CSW New York.” Shortly after this, a photograph of an international passport data page was allegedly shared.
Such developments have sparked speculation among political circles regarding what might have led to the inconsistency between early arrangements and the final nominee list. The situation has also ignited discussions about Nigeria's representation at a global conference centered on women's rights and gender equality.
Currently, Nigeria has a limited number of female senators in the National Assembly, which includes Kingibe and Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In her letter, Kingibe also informed Akpoti-Uduaghan that she could still participate in the conference on her own, if she had a valid United States visa. She mentioned, “While the official Ministry-sponsored list is still pending, if you already possess a valid United States visa and wish to attend independently, you are most welcome to join the delegation in New York.”
However, she emphasized that access to the United Nations complex would depend on formal accreditation by the Ministry of Women Affairs.
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