A fresh controversy has erupted in the Nigerian Senate over Nigeria’s delegation to the 2026 session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York City, after Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that she was excluded from the country’s official delegation despite indications that she might have initially been considered for the trip.
The dispute surfaced as the global conference on gender equality and women’s empowerment commenced on Monday in New York, drawing government officials, activists, and policymakers from around the world to deliberate on policies and strategies aimed at advancing the rights and opportunities of women and girls globally.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claim has triggered discussions within political circles and the National Assembly about transparency in the selection of delegates representing Nigeria at a major international forum dedicated to women’s rights and gender equality.
At the centre of the controversy is Ireti Heebah Kingibe, the senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, who also serves as chair of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs. Kingibe had earlier taken a strong position during a Senate budget presentation session, reportedly warning that she would boycott the international conference if Akpoti-Uduaghan was excluded from the delegation.
According to sources present at the meeting, the FCT senator expressed solidarity with the Kogi Central lawmaker and made a statement that was widely interpreted as a show of support. During the session, Kingibe reportedly said, “If Senator Natasha Akpoti is not going to attend the programme, it means I am not going to attend too.”
The remark quickly circulated within the National Assembly and among political observers, with many viewing it as an indication that both senators would either participate together or stay away from the conference if one was left out.
However, subsequent developments appeared to contradict that earlier position and deepened the controversy surrounding the delegation. In a letter dated March 5, 2026, addressed to Akpoti-Uduaghan and sighted by THISDAY last week, Kingibe clarified that only two senators had been officially nominated and registered for the CSW meeting by the Senate leadership.
In the letter, Kingibe explained that the list of Senate representatives was limited and had already been finalised through the office of the Senate President. The letter stated: “For the sake of clarity, I can confirm that at this stage, only two members of the Senate have been officially nominated by the Senate President and have confirmed registration: myself and Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire.”
The clarification indicated that the official Senate delegation currently consists of Kingibe herself and Adeniyi Adegbonmire, raising questions about whether Akpoti-Uduaghan had ever been formally included in the list.
Kingibe further explained in the same correspondence that the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs had not yet finalised the broader list of delegates expected to represent Nigeria at the CSW meeting, nor had it concluded the travel and accommodation arrangements for members of the Nigerian team.
According to her explanation, the process of compiling the full delegation was still ongoing, suggesting that participation at the conference could involve additional representatives from government institutions and civil society organisations once the ministry completed its preparations.
Despite this clarification, documents and messages circulating online appeared to suggest that Akpoti-Uduaghan might initially have been considered for the trip. Among the materials shared in political circles was a WhatsApp message allegedly sent by an aide linked to Kingibe.
The message reportedly showed a request made to the Personal Assistant to the Kogi Central senator asking for the “principal’s data page,” a reference to her international passport information required for travel documentation 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 the request was made, an image of an international passport data page was reportedly forwarded in response, suggesting that preliminary preparations might have been underway for Akpoti-Uduaghan’s possible participation in the conference.
The emergence of the message and related documents has fuelled speculation within political and legislative circles about what might have changed between the early preparations and the final nomination list announced by the Senate leadership.
Observers within the National Assembly have questioned whether internal decisions, administrative procedures, or logistical considerations may have influenced the final composition of the delegation. The situation has also sparked wider debate about Nigeria’s representation at an international conference dedicated to women’s rights, especially in light of the relatively small number of female lawmakers currently serving in the National Assembly.
Nigeria presently has only a handful of female senators in the National Assembly of Nigeria, including Kingibe and Akpoti-Uduaghan, making representation at global gender-focused events particularly significant. For many advocates of gender inclusion in politics, the controversy surrounding the CSW delegation highlights ongoing concerns about women’s participation in decision-making and international policy discussions related to gender equality.
Meanwhile, in the same March 5 letter, Kingibe informed Akpoti-Uduaghan that she could still attend the conference independently if she already possessed a valid United States visa. In her explanation, the FCT senator emphasised that attendance at the conference was not limited exclusively to those on the official ministry-sponsored list, provided the necessary travel documentation and accreditation requirements were met.
She wrote: “While the official Ministry-sponsored list remains pending, please be advised that 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.”
Kingibe, however, added that access to the United Nations complex where the conference sessions are held would depend strictly on formal accreditation procedures handled by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.
According to her clarification, participation in official meetings and events within the United Nations premises requires proper registration and clearance through the ministry, which manages Nigeria’s delegation and coordinates entry permissions for representatives attending the CSW conference.
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