Suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has reaffirmed her commitment to celebrating Eid-el-Fitr with her constituents on Tuesday, despite mounting political tensions and a last-minute attempt by authorities to halt her visit.
In a fiery Facebook post, Akpoti-Uduaghan directly accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo, and former Governor Yahaya Bello of orchestrating moves to disrupt her planned rally, warning that they would be held responsible for any outbreak of violence.
“My dear people of Kogi Central, I look forward to our PEACEFUL Sallah celebrations today,” she wrote. “However, should we be met with or infiltrated by violence, Nigerians should hold Gov Ododo, Yahaya Bello & SP Godswill Akpabio wholly responsible.”
Her statement comes just hours after the Kogi State Police Command, allegedly acting on higher orders, directed her to cancel the gathering—a move widely interpreted as another attempt to suppress opposition voices in the state.
However, in a swift response, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s media team dismissed reports that she had abandoned the visit, insisting that the event would go ahead as planned.
“We are pleased to confirm that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Sallah visit to Kogi Central will proceed as planned,” the statement read. “Despite rumours circulating online, there has been no official announcement from our office regarding the cancellation of this visit.”
Her defiance comes amid an intensifying political crackdown in Kogi State. Just a day earlier, Governor Ododo imposed a sweeping ban on rallies and public gatherings, citing “credible security reports.” However, critics argue that the move is a thinly veiled attempt to stifle opposition voices ahead of the 2027 elections.
A vocal critic of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi, Akpoti-Uduaghan has faced repeated attempts to silence her, including legal battles and violent attacks on her supporters. Despite these challenges, she remains steadfast in her resolve to engage with her people and challenge the state’s political establishment.
As tensions rise, all eyes are on Kogi Central to see whether the senator’s visit will proceed peacefully or become another flashpoint in the state’s volatile political landscape.
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