Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the representative of Kogi Central on the floor of the Nigerian Senate, has leveled allegations against Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, asserting that he conspired to kill her during the February senatorial election.
These claims were made by the senator-elect during her appearance on Tuesday’s edition of Channels Television’s “Politics Today.”
“I heard the discharge of firearms, and I have evidence of his associates firing at my vehicle,” she disclosed. “I possess video footage documenting the incident.”
Suggesting that she had video evidence of the attack, Akpoti-Uduaghan recounted the events, specifying that those involved were wearing APC shirts, with one individual identified as Amoka, who had previously served as the returning officer for Okehi local government. She claims that he led a group of ten men who fired shots at her vehicle.
The Senator-Elect expressed her concerns about the governor’s recent statement, in which he acknowledged her victory as the duly elected candidate for Kogi Central. She criticized the governor’s remarks, pointing out the inconsistency of endangering lives and labeling it as the ‘beauty of democracy.’
“He described this as the beauty of politics, but it is anything but. You don’t put people at risk, you don’t attempt to harm individuals, you don’t damage property, and you don’t obstruct the electoral process merely to ensure your candidate’s victory and call it ‘the beauty of democracy,'” she stated.
Additionally, Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that the governor intentionally disrupted critical transportation routes within the state to hinder the smooth progress of the election.
“Furthermore, the governor deliberately obstructed key roads. Just a day before the election, he dug trenches and blocked five roads. This was evidently an attempt to prevent the election from proceeding and potentially putting my life in danger,” she added.
She continued, “It was the night before the election, but thankfully, we managed to fill the trenches with the help of payloaders to ensure that the election could proceed.”
Despite the threats and obstacles she encountered, Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasized her determination to exhibit resilience, ensuring that she did not project an image of vulnerability for women engaged in or aspiring to participate in political leadership.
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