Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the representative for Kogi Central, has publicly revealed that she has been under consistent pressure from high-ranking political figures, including individuals in the Presidency and colleagues in the National Assembly, to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The senator, a prominent member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stated unequivocally that she has rejected all such advances.
Akpoti-Uduaghan made the disclosure during a recent appearance on the Mic On Podcast with Seun Okinbaloye, which was posted on YouTube on Saturday.
When directly asked whether the APC might become a viable option for her should the internal disagreements within the PDP deepen, the senator firmly ruled out the possibility of crossing the aisle. “No, I wouldn’t. I was in APC briefly at the start of everything. Why should I go and join APC?” she questioned, asserting her independence. “I don’t have to follow the bandwagon. I don’t have to succumb to any threats or fall for any cajolery.”
She detailed the persistent nature of the attempts to sway her loyalty, confirming that the approaches came from influential sources.
“I have been approached many times. I have been approached by people from the Presidency, from even my colleagues,” she revealed. The attempts continue to this day: “Even as recently as yesterday, one joked about it: ‘We’re still expecting, we would love to have you.’ And I’m like, I love my space, I love my peace here. I’m okay with my party now.”
Looking ahead to the 2027 general election, Akpoti-Uduaghan addressed the possibility of seeking re-election, noting that internal discussions are ongoing within the PDP, though no final decision has been made. Regarding speculation that former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, might challenge her for the Kogi Central senatorial seat, the first-term senator maintained she is not intimidated.
“If by any chance I make up my mind after due consultation with my family, constituents and political party, and I am on the ballot against former Governor Yahaya Bello in 2027, then I would say, bring it on,” she declared, citing her previous victory against a Bello-backed candidate in 2023.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan won the Kogi Central seat on the PDP platform following the nullification of the APC candidate Abubakar Sadiku-Ohere’s earlier declaration by the election tribunal. While she stressed that any future contest would likely be under the PDP banner, she warned that a prolonged leadership crisis within her current party could force her to explore other options.
