Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator from Kogi Central, has maintained that Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio started her recall effort by employing fictitious people.
Supporters from Kogi Central’s five local government areas reportedly assembled early on Tuesday in Ihima, Okehi LGA, to greet the PDP lawmaker.
Despite a government ban on processions and rallies, supporters gave Natasha a hearty welcome.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the senator, however, urged Bello to reveal the source of the fictitious constituents’ names that were demanding her recall.
She noted: “All available evidence and facts point directly to Bello as the mastermind behind the recall move.”
Bello’s previous acts prior to and during the general election in 2023, when he was charged with planning several attacks against her as a candidate, were referenced by Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The senator characterized the recall move as an extension of Bello’s personal political grudge.
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 elections, 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 intimidation. 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 more 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,” the Senator said.
