In a dramatic escalation of political tensions in Kogi State, suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan made a controversial homecoming visit to her constituency on Tuesday, defying both a state government ban on public gatherings and a police warning against holding rallies.
The embattled senator, who represents Kogi Central, arrived in Okehi via helicopter around 11am accompanied by her husband, Emmanuel Uduaghan. She was greeted by thousands of supporters who gathered despite the restrictions imposed by authorities.
During her address to supporters, Akpoti-Uduaghan made serious allegations, claiming there was a plot to assassinate her. She specifically alleged that a meeting took place at the Hilton where Senator Asuquo drove former Governor Yahaya Bello and instructed him to begin recall proceedings against her and to “try and kill me,” specifying that “the killing should not be done in Abuja but at home here.”
The senator’s visit comes amid an ongoing political controversy after she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment. Her petition to the Senate was dismissed on March 6, resulting in her six-month suspension without pay. Before her arrival in Kogi, she posted on Facebook that Nigerians should hold Governor Usman Ododo, former Governor Yahaya Bello, and Senate President Akpabio responsible if she or her supporters were attacked.
The Kogi State Government swiftly condemned Akpoti-Uduaghan’s statements as “reckless, malicious, and utterly false.” In a statement issued by Information Commissioner Kingsley Fanwo, the government labeled her “an incurable liar and serial manipulator” attempting to “mislead the public, incite unrest, and present herself as a victim.”
Regarding her suspension and recall petition, Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that INEC helped petitioners by accepting signatures from 250,000 people in just two days, claiming they used “unidentified names and fictitious addresses.” She accused operatives of deceiving constituents by promising empowerment programs in exchange for their PVCs.
Responding to criticism about defying the public gathering ban, the senator stated, “I am breaking no law. This is Nigeria and we have the right to be free and express choices in gatherings and celebrations. There is no law in this country Nigeria and in the constitution that prohibits me from coming home to celebrate Sallah with my people.”
Senate President Akpabio declined to engage directly with the controversy, with his media aide Eseme Eyiboh noting that the matter is subjudice, adding that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s continued public statements about the case “shows the level of respect she has for the rule of law herself.”
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned both the Kogi State Police Command and Governor Ododo, accusing them of politically motivated interference to prevent the senator from reuniting with her constituents.
This political drama continues to unfold as tensions remain high in Kogi State, with both sides trading serious accusations amidst what appears to be an increasingly volatile political climate.