Dismisses recall, accuses INEC of complicity
Govt. moves against Senator
By Eshioromeh Sebastian, Abuja and Daudu Majeed, Lokoja
Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, yesterday made a breathtaking allegations against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, claiming they conspired to orchestrate her assassination.
The senator presented these claims during a gathering with constituents at her Kogi hometown in Kogi State. She asserted that Akpabio had pressured incumbent Governor Usman Ododo to initiate recall proceedings against her, to which Ododo reportedly responded that such action would be untenable given her strong public support. “Ododo told him it was “impossible because the people are with her”, she said.
This was even as she dismissed the recall petition against her as spurious, alleging complicity by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in what she characterised as an illegitimate process initiated by unidentified individuals.
Concurrently, the Kogi State Government has issued a stern warning that the Senator will be held accountable for any resultant breakdown of law and order, following her alleged disregard of official directives prohibiting unauthorised public assemblies
Supporters from across Kogi Central’s five local government areas assembled in Ihima, Okehi LGA, had gathered in her country home to receive the senator. Her arrival by helicopter was met with enthusiastic cheers from the crowd, accompanied by festive music and celebrations.
In her address, Akpoti-Uduaghan countered the government’s restrictions, framing her visit as a Sallah celebration with constituents.
She alleged that after the unsuccessful attempt, Akpabio enlisted Cross River Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong to facilitate contact with Yahaya Bello, purportedly to advance the plot against.
“The meeting was twofold,”she said. “They told Yahaya Bello to commence my recall and that he (Akpabio) was going to fund it. Money changed hands that night.”
The senator then dropped a bombshell, claiming that the second part of the discussion was a directive to assassinate her.
“Akpabio told Yahaya Bello, and I stand by what I am saying, that he should ensure my killing does not happen in Abuja but here (in Kogi), so it would look like the people killed me,” she stated.
Natasha revealed that she had kept the details private but had formally reported the threat to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and other security agencies.
Speaking on her recall, she expressed grave misgivings regarding INEC’s purported involvement in the contentious recall process.
“What I see INEC doing is aiding and guiding the petitioners on how to perfect their illicit act to recall me,” she said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that when the petition was first submitted, it lacked essential details such as addresses and phone numbers.
According to her, rather than reject the submission outright, INEC assisted the petitioners in providing the necessary details.
“The first time the petition was submitted, they didn’t have an address, phone numbers, and all of that. INEC went out of its way to guide them on how to submit the correct information to perfect their petition,” she stated.
She further disclosed that the group behind the recall effort, the APC Kogi Central Political Frontier, used a fictitious address, Number 4, Ogborokeba, Ogboroke, which, upon investigation, was found to be nonexistent.
“We ran a check on the registration status of the association that sponsored my recall, APC Kogi Central Political Frontier, and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) report came back negative. That association is not registered. So, I am still waiting. I am wondering why INEC has not yet made a statement to that effect or sent people down to Ogboroke, which is just five minutes away, to verify whether that address is real.
“Have we stooped to the point where fictitious, nonexistent associations and individuals can call for the recall of a senator? Are we in a kangaroo country? We should not allow that,” she declared.
Regarding the legal implications of the recall process, Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed uncertainty about how the situation would unfold, noting that the matter is already before the courts.
“So now, I don’t know whether the process will be stalled, but we are in court as well. I also don’t know when INEC will come down here to verify you. But I will say this—if the time ever comes for the verification of the 250,000 people that supposedly signed for my recall, I trust that you will do what is right. I trust that you will speak the truth,” she told her supporters.
During her address, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan offered a sober reflection on her political journey, highlighting the systemic barriers faced by women in Nigerian public life. She drew parallels between her experiences and those of professional women navigating academia and corporate sectors.”
“I have had to sit back and ask myself: What have I done wrong? Should I have kept quiet? Maybe. But for how much longer? How long should I remain silent while they try to erase me from that place? How long should I be invisible and ineffective?
“I know that many women are going through the same thing I went through. Many of our daughters in universities, no matter how intelligent they are, have had lecturers ask them for sexual favours. That’s the reality. Even in the banks and other corporate spaces, we have our wives, sisters, and mothers enduring silent pain despite being married.
“I do not cry today because I feel defeated. I cry because I know that the next time, it will be easier for another woman to pursue her dreams. And hopefully, one day, we will have stronger reforms and laws that protect women in politics, in the corporate world, and in schools.
“Our women will feel safe, whether they are married or not. This is a journey not just for me but for all Nigerian women,” she said.
The senator expressed gratitude to her supporters and urged them to remain steadfast in the face of challenges.
“I am grateful for your support. I am grateful for your love. But it is not over yet. Let’s join hands together and resist the evil intentions of those who do not wish us well.
“We will continue to fight for development, and we will continue to pray to God for guidance, strength, and ultimately, peace in our land,” she added.
“What I see INEC doing is aiding and guiding petitioners on how to perfect their illicit acts,” Senator Natasha said regarding the ongoing recall process.
In a related development, the Kogi State Government condemned the allegations made by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, describing them as “reckless, malicious, and utterly false.”
The government also called on security agencies to monitor Akpoti-Uduaghan’s “reckless utterances and inflammatory actions,” asserting that she should be held accountable for any attempts to incite violence.
In a statement that followed her allegations, by the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, the government dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, former Governor Yahaya Bello, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio should be held responsible if anything happens to her.
Fanwo described her allegations as “another desperate and calculated attempt by an incurable liar and serial manipulator to mislead the public, incite unrest, and present herself as a victim.”
According to the commissioner, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s actions violated the state government’s ban on political gatherings, which was imposed to maintain law and order.
He further accused the senator of attempting to use her visit to “stir trouble and violence in Kogi Central Senatorial District.”
“We will not allow any part of the state to go up in flames nor permit the killing of innocent souls by the actions of the suspended Senator,” the statement read in part.
Fanwo also claimed that despite deleting her post accusing the government of endangering her life, screenshots had been taken before its removal. He maintained that security reports had earlier indicated plans by “certain elements” to cause unrest in Kogi Central.
“Let it be categorically stated that Governor Ododo has no interest in the political theatrics of the suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Her baseless allegations are nothing but a feeble attempt to stir unnecessary controversy and cover up her blatant disregard for the law,” he stated.
The commissioner accused the senator of a “pattern of lawlessness” and using deceit to gain public sympathy. He maintained that her alleged defiance of security directives had made her a “security threat” in the state.
“The people of Kogi State and Nigerians at large should see through her deceptive ploys and reject her attempt to manipulate public perception with outright lies. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is not a victim; she is an instigator of disorder who thrives on spreading falsehoods to gain public sympathy,” he said.
Fanwo said that the Kogi State Government would not be “blackmailed or intimidated” and warned that the senator would be held responsible if her actions led to any violence.
“Let it be clear that the security of every citizen in Kogi State, including that of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, remains a priority. However, the government will not tolerate anyone deliberately provoking crises and then crying wolf when confronted with the consequences of his or her actions,” he said.
He called on security agencies to monitor Akpoti-Uduaghan’s “reckless utterances and inflammatory actions,” asserting that she should be held accountable for any attempts to incite violence.
Natasha told her supporters that nobody can stop her from coming home.
She said: “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,” she said.
She further stated, “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.”
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