Real Reason Akpabio Instructed Yahaya Bello To Kill Me; Senator Natasha
Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio ordered former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to have her killed in Kogi State.
Akpoti-Uduaghan made this allegation on Tuesday during a grand homecoming reception organised by her supporters in Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State.
“The meeting was in two phases,” she said.
“Akpabio told Yahaya Bello to commence my recall process and assured him that he would fund it. Of course, money changed hands that night. The second thing he told him was to try and have me killed.”
She further alleged that Akpabio specifically instructed Bello to ensure that the assassination did not take place in Abuja.
“I didn’t make this public earlier, but I reported it to the Inspector General of Police (Kayode Egbetokun). Akpabio told Yahaya Bello— and I stand by what I am saying— that he should ensure my killing does not happen in Abuja. It should be done in Kogi so it would appear as if the people here were responsible,” she alleged.
Detailing the timeline of events, she stated that on March 12, Akpabio called Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo, urging him to begin the process of recalling her from the Senate.
However, Ododo allegedly responded that it would be impossible because “the masses are with her.”
“Akpabio was not satisfied,” she said.
“He then sent for Yahaya Bello. It was actually Senator Asuquo from Cross River who drove Yahaya Bello from the Hilton Hotel to the meeting. I was informed of everything when I got to know about it.”
According to her, on March 14, around 10:30 PM, she received calls confirming that Yahaya Bello was meeting with Akpabio.
“I immediately notified security agencies,” she stated. “I also reached out to media houses, including ThisDay and Punch, trying to get them to publish the information in advance. But without solid evidence, they were unable to do so.
“They asked if I had proof that my recall had been planned. I said I didn’t have hard evidence, but I knew the meeting had taken place and what was discussed.”
She added that three days later, the recall process officially began.
“When it happened, people called me, saying, ‘Oh, you were right.’ I told them I had warned about it. What happened next? They went around deceiving our women, claiming there was an empowerment programme to get their support,” she added.
Earlier, Naija News House reported that the senator accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of aiding and guiding petitioners in their alleged illicit attempt to recall her from office.
Speaking on Tuesday during a grand homecoming reception by her supporters in Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area—despite a state government ban on rallies and processions—Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed her concerns over INEC’s role in the recall process.
“What I see INEC doing is aiding and guiding the petitioners on how to perfect their illicit act to recall me,” she said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that when the petition was first submitted, it lacked essential details such as addresses and phone numbers.
According to her, rather than reject the submission outright, INEC assisted the petitioners in providing the necessary details.
“The first time the petition was submitted, they didn’t have an address, phone numbers, and all of that. INEC went out of its way to guide them on how to submit the correct information to perfect their petition,” she stated.
She further disclosed that the group behind the recall effort, the APC Kogi Central Political Frontier, used a fictitious address—Number 4, Ogborokeba, Ogboroke—which, upon investigation, was found to be nonexistent.
“We ran a check on the registration status of the association that sponsored my recall, APC Kogi Central Political Frontier, and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) report came back negative. That association is not registered. So, I am still waiting. I am wondering why INEC has not yet made a statement to that effect or sent people down to Ogboroke—which is just five minutes away—to verify whether that address is real.
“Have we stooped to the point where fictitious, nonexistent associations and individuals can call for the recall of a senator? Are we in a kangaroo country? We should not allow that,” she declared.
Regarding the legal implications of the recall process, Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed uncertainty about how the situation would unfold, noting that the matter was already before the courts.
