Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the representative of Kogi Central Senatorial District, boldly attended her homecoming event on Tuesday, brushing aside efforts by the Kogi State Government and police to halt the gathering.
In widely shared social media videos, the senator asserted her resolve, stating, “Nobody and nothing can stop me from coming home. I’m an Ebira woman; this is my land. I’m the daughter of the late Jimoh Abdul Akpoti. I know my roots; I’m not a bastard, and I’m not afraid of anybody.”
The event proceeded despite a ban imposed by the Kogi State Police Command earlier that day. Police Commissioner Miller Dantawaye, through spokesperson Williams Ovye-Aya, justified the prohibition by pointing to intelligence reports warning of potential security risks, including plans by “hoodlums” to disrupt the rally. The senator’s visit, initially framed as a Sallah outreach to connect with her constituents and promote unity, was perceived by some as a counter-move against an alleged recall effort reportedly backed by her political adversaries.
The police action followed a broader security directive from the Kogi State Government on Monday, which outlawed all rallies and public gatherings statewide. Kingsley Fanwo, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, explained that the ban stemmed from intelligence indicating that certain groups planned to exploit rallies to destabilize the state, potentially using impostor security personnel. The government also cited unrelated security issues, such as fishing disputes in Kogi West and communal tensions in Kogi East, as additional context for the clampdown.
Undeterred, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan went ahead with the event, greeted by an enthusiastic throng of supporters. Her defiance comes amid heightened political pressure, including a recent recall petition submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by a group claiming to represent Kogi Central voters. Led by Salihu Habib, the petitioners expressed a loss of confidence in her leadership. This development follows her suspension from the Senate over alleged misconduct and her public accusation of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.