Hot SourceA tumultuous crowd of supporters welcomed Senator representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, to her senatorial district on Tuesday despite the ban placed on rallies and political procession by the state government.
Senator Natasha, who was suspended by the senate following the report of the Senate Ethics Committee and her allegation of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, was received by supporters from Kogi Central’s five local government areas who converged on Ihima, Okehi Local Government, despite a curfew imposed by the Okehi Local Government chairman, Amoka Monday, and warnings from the police.
Natasha arrived in a white helicopter, to address her jubilant supporters who hailed her dogged resistance against all forms of intimidation, including the ongoing recall process.
“Yesterday, we heard on the news that rallies and gatherings will not be allowed, that roads will be blocked, and convoys leading into the state will not be allowed.
“I knew that we were the targets. But then I said, this is not political season, this is not campaign time.
“We are not having a rally. This is just me, the Senator representing Kogi Central, coming down to her people to celebrate this festive time – the Sallah with you, and there is nothing wrong with that.
“I am breaking no law. This is Nigeria. We have the right to be free, to express our choice in gatherings and celebrations,” Senator Natasha said as she dismissed the government’s restrictions.
In her remarks, she alleged that Senate President Akpabio instructed former Governor Yahaya Bello to orchestrate her assassination, disguising it as a community attack.
She also alleged that the current governor, Usman Ododo, was complicit in the plot.
Natasha claimed that the recall effort was orchestrated by Akpabio in collaboration with influential figures in the All Progressives Congress (APC).
She recounted how the Senate President allegedly pressured Governor Ododo to lead the recall process but was met with resistance.
“Let me say this now. On the 14th of March at 10:30 p.m.—mind you, two days before that, on the 12th—Akpabio spoke to Governor Ododo to recall me. But he told him it would be impossible because the masses are with her, the people are with her. But Akpabio was not satisfied,” she told her supporters.
She further alleged that Akpabio then turned to Yahaya Bello, with a senator from Cross River, Asuquo Ekpenyong, reportedly escorting Bello to a meeting where money exchanged hands to fund the recall process.
Beyond the recall, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of explicitly directing Bello to have her killed in Kogi and not Abuja, ensuring that it would appear as an attack by locals rather than a politically motivated assassination.
“The second thing he told him was that he should try and kill me. I didn’t make this public, but I wrote to the IG of Police. And Akpabio told Yahaya Bello—I am standing on what I’ve said. He told him that he should make sure that killing me does not happen in Abuja, that it should be done here so it will seem as if it’s the people that killed me here,” she alleged.
Neither Akpabio, Bello, nor Ododo have publicly responded to the allegations.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has accused INEC of bias, alleging it aided petitioners in refining the recall petition against her.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, also accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of bias in handling the petition seeking her recall from the Senate.
She alleged that INEC was actively guiding petitioners affiliated with the All Progressives Congress (APC) on how to legitimise their claims.
Akpoti-Uduaghan criticised INEC for allegedly assisting the petitioners in refining their submission. She claimed that the initial recall petition lacked essential details, such as addresses and phone numbers, but that INEC intervened to help rectify these issues.
“What I see INEC doing is aiding and guiding petitioners on how to perfect their illicit acts,” she stated.
She further alleged that the recall was orchestrated by a fictitious organisation, Kogi Central Political Frontier, whose listed address—No. 4, Oboroke—does not exist. According to her, a search at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) confirmed that the group was not legally registered.
She questioned why INEC had not taken steps to verify the legitimacy of the petitioners or their claims, adding that she and her supporters were prepared to challenge the recall process in court.
She said: “I’m still waiting and wondering why INEC has not yet made a statement to that effect or sent people down to Oboroke here, which is just five minutes away, to ascertain whether that address is real. Or have we stooped to the point whereby fictitious, non-existing associations and individuals can call for the recall of a senator? Are we in a kangaroo country? We should not allow that.
“I don’t know whether the process will be stalled, but we are in courts as well. Also, I don’t know when they will come down here to verify.
“But I will say this, if the time ever comes for the verification of the 250,000 people that signed for my recall, I trust that you will do right.” Meanwhile, Kogi Government in a statement by Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, said the gathering by Natasha and her supporters was held in violation of the ban on public gatherings.
“Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has consistently demonstrated a pattern of lawlessness, using lies and deceit as her tools of political engagement. The recent disturbances in Kogi State, orchestrated by her defiance of the state’s security directives, have further confirmed her status as a security threat to the people of the State.
“She deliberately violated the State Government’s ban on political gatherings, which was put in place to prevent security breaches and maintain peace. Instead of respecting the law, she chose to incite chaos, disregarding the safety and stability of the state. When confronted with the consequences of her actions, she resorted to her usual tactics of playing the victim and fabricating baseless accusations against respected leaders of the state and the nation,” he said.
