Kogi Residents, Backed By Yahaya Bello, Akpabio, Begin Recall Process Against Senator Natasha Amid Sexual Harassment Allegations
A recall process has been launched against Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan just weeks after her controversial suspension from the Senate.
Sources told SaharaReporters that the recall effort is being orchestrated by former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The recall process reportedly began today, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, with multiple sources confirming the development.
A source familiar with the situation alleged that substantial financial inducement was involved in the scheme.
“Senator Akpabio engaged Governor Yahaya Bello with $2 million (N3,051,960,000.00) to recall Senator Natasha. Recall process commences today,” the source disclosed.
Multiple videos and pictures obtained by SaharaReporters show residents participating in what is said to be the start of the recall process. Sources allege that the participants were misled into thinking they were attending 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 said.
Another resident who witnessed the gathering further disclosed the tactics employed to give an impression of widespread support for the recall.
“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 program.”
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan confirmed the recall move to SaharaReporters on Wednesday afternoon, stating, “It is true.”
Sources close to the matter also claimed that the recall effort is a carefully coordinated strategy led by Bello and Akpabio, who allegedly met over the weekend to finalise the details.
“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 revealed.
The source also claimed that the two politicians planned to rig the process by forging voters’ signatures from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) database and pressuring the commission to validate the fake documents.
“They plan to forge signatures of voters on the INEC database and pressure the electoral commission to accept the forged data,” the source stated.
However, resistance from many constituents in Kogi Central has thrown a wrench into the plan.
“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 told SaharaReporters, referencing her legal victory over Abubakar Ohere of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was backed by Yahaya Bello 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,” the source added.
The recall process comes amid heightened tensions following Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension from the Senate on March 6, 2025, for six months.
While the official reason for her suspension was cited as “gross misconduct” and “unruly behaviour” during a seating dispute, her supporters believe it was a retaliatory move linked to her allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Akpabio.
These accusations, which Akpabio has vehemently denied, have intensified the political battle between the two lawmakers and drawn significant national and international attention.
SaharaReporters previously reported that constituents from Kogi Central, under the banner of the Concerned Constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District, issued a statement on March 16, 2025, warning against any attempts to recall the senator.
The group, representing a broad cross-section of the senatorial district, described her suspension as “illegal” and affirmed their “unalloyed support,” insisting that “nothing can ever make them recall” her. (SaharaReporters)
