Akpabio removes Natasha Akpoti as diaspora committee chair

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi central, has been removed as chairman of the senate committee on diaspora and NGOs.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio made the announcement during plenary on Thursday.

Akpabio named Aniekan Bassey, who represents Akwa Ibom north-east, as the new chairman of the diaspora and NGOs committee. Bassey is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The new chairman is Distinguished Senator Aniekan Bassey, and it will take effect from today,” he said.

Akpabio also hinted at a broader reshuffling of committee positions, saying a review of vice chairmanships would be undertaken in the coming week to ensure a more equitable distribution.

“We will make some changes to our vice chairmanship positions next week. Some of the senators have two vice chairmanship positions. Every senator should either be a chairman or a vice chairman so we balance the situation,” he said.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, a first-time senator on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had previously chaired the senate committee on local content until her removal in February.

She was subsequently reassigned to head the diaspora and NGOs committee.

With her latest removal, she no longer holds chairmanship of any senate committee.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended in March over alleged gross misconduct following an altercation with Akpabio over seating arrangements.