Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been removed as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), marking her second ouster from a committee leadership position since February.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the decision during Thursday’s plenary, appointing Senator Aniekan Bassey (APC–Akwa Ibom North-East) as her replacement with immediate effect.
“The new chairman is distinguished senator Aniekan Bassey, and it will take effect from today,” Akpabio said.
He also hinted at a broader reshuffle of senate leadership roles, revealing that vice chairmanship positions would be reviewed in the coming week to promote equity among lawmakers.
“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, elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), initially chaired the Senate Committee on Local Content but was removed from that post earlier this year. She was reassigned to lead the Diaspora and NGOs Committee before her latest removal.
With Thursday’s announcement, she no longer holds any senate committee leadership position.
In March, Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the chamber over alleged gross misconduct following a clash with Akpabio linked to seating arrangements
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