A recall process against Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has commenced, just weeks after her controversial suspension from the Senate, MUK TV has learned.
Sources told Sahara Reporters that the recall effort is being driven by former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Financial inducements, according to one of the anonymous sources, are playing a role in the process.
“Senator Akpabio engaged Governor Yahaya Bello with $2 million (N3,051,960,000.00) to recall Senator Natasha. Recall process commences today,” a source alleged.
Videos and images circulating on social media show Kogi residents participating in what sources claim was misrepresented as an empowerment programme.
“Akpabio is conniving with Yahaya Bello and INEC to recall Natasha. The recall team is led by the local government chairman, moving with police officers,” a witness noted.
Another resident described how the recall process was staged to appear widely supported.
“They gathered crowds in three areas—Yahaya Bello’s polling unit, Ododo’s polling unit, and Ohere’s polling unit,” the resident said. “To give an impression that there is massive turnout everywhere, the participants were made to believe they were participating in an empowerment programme.”
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan confirmed the development, saying, “It is true.”
Sources claim the recall is a calculated strategy finalised during a meeting between Bello and Akpabio over the weekend.
“I can confirm that Bello and Akpabio met last weekend, and they have concluded plans to recall Senator Natasha. The recall is being financed by Yahaya Bello,” another source disclosed.
The same source alleged that efforts were underway to manipulate the recall by forging voter signatures from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) database.
“They plan to forge signatures of voters on the INEC database and pressure the electoral commission to accept the forged data,” the source stated.
Despite these efforts, many Kogi Central constituents have resisted the recall, expressing strong support for the senator.
“We are saying we don’t want to recall Natasha because we have been enjoying so much under her since she joined the Senate after winning her court case against Bello’s favorite,” a constituent said, referencing her victory over APC’s Abubakar Ohere in the 2023 elections.
“The people are happy with her representation, but Yahaya Bello wants her to be removed, and he has bought over Akpabio, who has intimated some people in the Senate of the plan,” another source alleged.
The recall move follows Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension from the Senate on March 6, 2025. While the Senate cited “gross misconduct” and “unruly behavior” as reasons for her suspension, her supporters believe it was politically motivated, linking it to her sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Akpabio.
Akpabio has strongly denied the allegations, but the controversy has intensified political tensions and attracted widespread attention.
On March 16, 2025, a group called the Concerned Constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District issued a statement warning against the recall attempt.
The group described her suspension as “illegal” and declared their “unalloyed support,” vowing that “nothing can ever make them recall” the senator.
