The Senate has named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new head of its Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations Committee, replacing Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who remains sidelined following a prolonged suspension.
Senator Bassey, who represents Akwa Ibom North-East, was officially confirmed as chair during Thursday’s plenary session. The announcement comes amid lingering controversy surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, despite a court ruling that declared it unconstitutional.
Although a Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement in May, the Senate insists that it has yet to receive a certified true copy of the judgment. Meanwhile, Akpoti-Uduaghan has refrained from resuming her legislative duties, citing legal advice and institutional protocol.
The senator, one of only a few women in the current Senate, has criticised the delay as an attack on both her constituents and female political representation, warning that silencing her voice undermines democratic accountability.
