Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja 

The senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has maintained that the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and a former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello,  initiated her recall process using fake constituents.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months by the Senate for accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment.

Checks revealed that on Tuesday, supporters from Kogi Central’s five local government areas gathered early in Ihima, Okehi LGA, to welcome the embattled lawmaker.

Despite police and the state government’s ban on rallies and processions, Akpoti-Uduaghan received a rousing welcome from her supporters.

However, the senator, in a statement issued Wednesday, said all available evidence and facts pointed directly to Bello as the mastermind behind the recall move.

Akpoti-Uduaghan cited Bello’s past actions before and during the 2023 general election when he was accused of orchestrating multiple attacks against her, then a candidate.

The senator described the recall attempt as a continuation of Bello’s political vendetta against her, and therefore, challenged Bello to tell the world where he manufactured the names of those fake constituents calling for her recall. 

She added: “I will advise the former governor to rather focus on clearing his name over allegations of fraudulent diversion of N89.2 billion, instead of attempting to destabilize the mandate given to me by the people of Kogi Central.

“The former governor’s hands are already full with corruption allegations, yet he is still bent on frustrating the will of the people. 

“His actions before and during the last general election, where he sponsored numerous attacks against me, are well documented. This recall attempt is nothing but another ploy to undermine the people’s will.

“It is now very clear to the whole world how popular I am in my constituency.  The powers that be did try to suppress the will of the people but my people emphatically said no. No to injustice, no to exploitation of women, no to fake recall, no to Yahaya Bello and his allies. 

“They (my people) came out en masse to resist government intimidations. We thank them for the massive show of love. We also thank our oppressors because their actions have now made them more unpopular while we gained more support. 

“As for me, I will do more for my people. I will not betray them. I will continue to give my best and they should be rest assured of our best representation all the time.”

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