Sunday, January 4, 2026 - The senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has dismissed concerns that the decision of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, to contest her senatorial seat in 2027 posed no threat to her political future.
Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was not under any form of pressure
over Bello’s declaration, insisting that she welcomed the development.
Speaking through her Special Adviser on Media, Mike Idoko,
in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, the lawmaker said Bello’s ambition would not
unsettle her.
She said, “We don’t see it as a threat. In fact, we are
happy that he wants to contest. We are waiting for them.”
The Kogi Central Senatorial seat is currently occupied by
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was elected in 2023 after a prolonged legal battle.
A lawyer and former governorship aspirant, Akpoti-Uduaghan
made history as the first woman to represent Kogi Central in the Senate.
Bello had earlier announced his intention to contest the
Kogi Central Senatorial seat in the 2027 general elections.
The former governor made the declaration during a visit to
the palace of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, where he met with traditional rulers,
religious leaders and other stakeholders from the senatorial district.
A video of the visit, including his declaration, was
shared on Bello’s verified Facebook page on Monday.
“I accept to run for the Senate in 2027,” Bello was heard
saying while addressing the gathering.
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, was present at the
event alongside other political figures and community leaders.
The governor was said to have appealed to his predecessor to
heed calls from party leaders and constituents urging him to represent the
district at the National Assembly.
The appeal was reportedly made in the presence of the
Ohinoyi of Ebiraland and other influential figures from the area.
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