The push to recall the suspended senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District of Kogi State at the Senate, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, intensified on Thursday, with more groups in Kogi Central throwing their weight behind the process.

A group of Ebira indigenes refuted the claim that the recall process was being sponsored and influenced with money by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s political opponents.

The push to recall the female senator followed her suspension from the Senate, after a heated dispute with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, over seating arrangements.

The suspended lawmaker, who also accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, had since taken her case before local and foreign media and the United Nations Inter-Parliamentary Union.

In a dramatic twist on Wednesday, constituents began the process for her recall but the Independent National Electoral Commission denied knowledge of the process.

On Thursday, the recall push intensified with the Kogi Central Women Development Association accusing the senator of conduct as unbecoming of a representative of the people.

Addressing a press conference in Lokoja, the association accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of turning the Senate into a spectacle rather than focusing on governance.

The Kogi Central Political Frontier also lent its voice to the recall movement, expressing concern over what it described as the senator’s failure to prioritise her constituents’ interests.

The group criticised the female senator for refusing to apologise to the Senate, stating that her decision to escalate the matter globally instead of addressing it through proper legal channels reflected a disregard for the people who elected her.

But a coalition of northern youth groups condemned the recall process, describing it as unconstitutional and politically motivated.
At a joint press conference in Abuja, the North Central Youth Council, Northern Youth Assembly of Nigeria, Northern Youth Council of Nigeria, and Arewa Youth Union, strongly criticised Senate President Godswill Akpabio, accusing him of abusing his position and undermining democratic principles.

The youth leaders argued that Senator Uduaghan’s suspension lacked due process, was biased, and violated legal precedents set by Nigerian courts.

“We condemn in totality the so called suspension and the attempted Kangaroo recall of distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Democracy is not a personal property and shouldn’t be personalised, hence, Senator Godwill Akpabio should know that he can’t continue be on that seat forever and must respect the rules governing the senate arms of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the group stated.

Meanwhile, Akpoti-Uduaghan dismissed the recall effort, attributing it to political sponsorship rather than genuine dissatisfaction among her constituents.

In an interview with Sky News on Wednesday, the embattled lawmaker alleged that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, made persistent advances toward her for over a year.

Speaking at a press conference in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Thursday, the Kogi Central Women Development Association said the recall process became necessary as Akpoti-Uduaghan had turned the Senate into a showbiz.
Addressing the conference, Omole Charity Ijese said that the decision became necessary after careful evaluation of the actions she had taken so far and how it could potentially undermine the genuine efforts of other female politicians in the zone.

“We the Kogi Central Women Development Association are deeply alarmed that what began as a simple change of seat degenerated so fast into sexual harassment claims by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

“It isn’t in our place to decide whether her claims are valid or not, but it is within our purview to evaluate the actions she has taken so far and how they could potentially undermine the genuine efforts of other female politicians in the zone.

“As the saying goes, he who accuses must prove. We had expected Senator Natasha to have presented a petition before the Senate on her claims backed by solid evidence, instead of going on television to make a claim she’s yet to either file in court nor provide evidence to,” she said.

The group said the embattled lawmaker must understand that being a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a privilege and a serious business now show business.

“Her appearance before the Inter-Parliamentary Union has given her sexual harassment narrative as reason for her suspension a wide coverage by the international media, putting not only the Senate but the Nigerian state in a negative light,” the group added.
It is on this premise that we, members of the Kogi Central Women Development Association, denounce her as our senator, demand an apology from her as we resolve to mobilise other groups in Kogi Central to commence her recall process from the Senate,” the group said.

The Kogi Central Political Frontier, addressing a press conference also in Lokoja, on Thursday, said it was ready to commence the process of recalling Akpoti-Uduaghan.

“We have been watching with keen interest the unfolding events concerning the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Senate and Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio.

“A recent review of events that led to the suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan for gross misconduct and unruly behaviour has not only cast a shadow on the people of the district but also spurred us to question if truly the interest of the people of Kogi Central is duly protected in this matter,” the spokesperson of the group stated.

The group lamented that despite the window given to the lawmaker to reverse the decision by submitting a written apology, she had yet to consider the opportunity.

“Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has clearly failed to prioritise or consider the collective interest of the people of Kogi Central whose voices by this singular misstep will be silenced for the next six legislative months, which is equivalent to 12 calendar months,” the group said.

It added that all her actions since she was suspended were indicative of a personal resolve to abandon the people of Kogi Central to their own fate.

Also, the Ebira indigenes condemned, in strong terms, insinuations that the recall process against the lawmaker representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, was not endorsed by the majority of the electorate in the area.

In a statement on Thursday, jointly signed by the President and Secretary of the Kogi Central Elites Forum, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdulazeez Ibrahim and Prince Akerejola Johnson of Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area respectively, the Ebira constituents asked Nigerians to disregard the deliberate mischief by Natasha’s camp suggesting that people were deceived to come out for the recall exercise.

“No one is sponsoring this recall. Our people are largely united on this cause.



https://punchng.com/natasha-fights-back-as-constituents-intensify-recall-move/