Kogi group accuses Obi-Kwankwaso Movement of targeting Natasha

A Kogi Central pressure group has urged political opponents of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to allow voters to determine her political future in 2027, accusing them of using an anti-corruption petition to weaken her influence ahead of the general elections.
The Kogi Central Progressive Elites said the petition submitted by the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recent cash empowerment programme was politically motivated.

The group’s president, Abdullahi Omeiza, made the allegation in a statement on Thursday, arguing that the distribution of financial assistance to constituents did not automatically amount to vote-buying.
He said any assessment of the programme’s legality should consider its objectives, circumstances, beneficiaries and compliance with electoral laws.

“We are concerned about the growing tendency among some political actors to deploy anti-corruption institutions and rhetoric as instruments of partisan warfare,” Omeiza said.
He, however, acknowledged that public officials should be held accountable, insisting that allegations must be backed by credible evidence and handled through established legal procedures.

“Accountability is important, but it must be pursued through facts, evidence and established legal procedures, not through sensational political narratives designed to damage the reputation of an elected public official,” he added.
The group warned the EFCC against allowing political pressure to influence its handling of the petition, saying the commission should be free to carry out its statutory responsibilities independently.

“Allegations are not convictions, petitions are not proof of wrongdoing, and public accusations cannot substitute for due process,” Omeiza said.
It also dismissed the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement’s reported plan to mobilise political resources against the senator’s return to the National Assembly, describing it as an expression of opposition rather than proof of wrongdoing.

Omeiza said political groups were entitled to support candidates of their choice but should present alternatives to voters instead of attempting to dictate the outcome of the election.
“If anyone believes Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan does not deserve another mandate, the appropriate response is to present a better alternative and allow the people to decide at the polls,” he said.

The group maintained that constituents should assess the senator’s legislative performance, accessibility and constituency projects before deciding whether to re-elect her in 2027.
It also called on political stakeholders to avoid personality-driven attacks and urged Akpoti-Uduaghan’s supporters to remain peaceful amid the controversy.