Ebira indigenes across the five local governments of Kogi Central have strongly condemned insinuations that the recall process against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was not widely supported.
They insisted that the initiative was a collective decision, emphasizing that the lawmaker had brought “international embarrassment” to the senatorial district.
In a statement released on Thursday and signed by the President and Secretary of the Kogi Central Elites Forum (KCEF), Alh. Ibrahim Abdulazeez Ibrahim and Prince Akerejola Johnson of Ogori/Magongo LGA, the constituents reaffirmed their commitment to recalling the embattled senator.
They urged the public to disregard claims from her supporters that the recall process was manipulated or driven by external influence.
The statement clarified that the decision was based on a genuine need to uphold the integrity of their constituency.
“No one is sponsoring this recall. Our people are largely united on this cause. From the history of the Ebira people, you know we cannot be deceived. Many who once supported her on social media have withdrawn their backing. We cannot trade the integrity of our state and nation for the selfish, immature actions of a senator,” they declared.
They criticized Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s handling of the controversy surrounding her refusal to take an assigned seat in the Senate, arguing that her allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio were misleading and damaging.
“A matter as simple as following Senate seating arrangements should not have escalated to a national scandal of this magnitude, particularly when all evidence points to blackmail. This is not who we are as Ebiras,” the statement added.
Addressing the claim that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had disowned the recall exercise, the group clarified that INEC’s role only begins after the signature collection phase is completed.
“We are the petitioners, and it is our duty to ensure the threshold is met before INEC steps in for verification,” they explained.
They urged the public to disregard any politically motivated misinterpretation of the recall process, asserting that their decision was driven purely by a desire to restore dignity to their representation.
“We are determined to bring Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan back home. While at home, she may learn the proper principles of legislative representation. The Senate is not a platform for social media theatrics, as some have rightly pointed out,” they stated.
The group also emphasized that their action was not about intimidation but about upholding the integrity of the Senate. “Ordinarily, we would defend our daughter against any form of intimidation. But in this case, she disrespected the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which has established rules. Instead of following due process, she introduced narratives that have never been heard in the history of the Senate,” the statement read.
The controversy surrounding Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan erupted following her refusal to comply with Senate rules, which led to disciplinary action against her. Her claims of sexual harassment against Senate President Akpabio further intensified the situation, leading to nationwide debates and calls for clarity.
However, her constituents maintain that the matter was unnecessarily escalated, and they remain resolute in their demand for her recall.
