Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, has spoken about her political future as the 2027 elections approach.
She made her comments during an interview on Politics Today, a program on Channels TV, on Thursday. This came shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) dismissed a petition that sought to recall her from the Senate.
Senator Natasha has been involved in several controversies. Besides the failed recall attempt, she was also suspended from the Senate for six months after refusing to move to a seat assigned to her. The suspension followed her accusations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. During the suspension period, her allowances and security will remain withdrawn.
During the interview, the host pointed out a flyer she had posted on social media which read “Natasha Akpoti to 2027 and beyond” following the announcement of the failed recall.
The host probed, “It does look like you are very confident. And one of your associates said, if Yahaya Bello (Immediate-past Kogi State Governor) and Ododo (Kogi Governor Usman Ododo) are on the same ticket, Natasha Akpoti will beat them.”
To this, Senator Natasha responded, “Yes, I will.”
She was then asked, “Is that the kind of confidence that you have? Are you popular?”
She replied, “Very popular, very popular. And I think one thing that works for me is I live my life every day as a senator, educating people and creating awareness in the minds of people who have lost hope in politics. So I’m beginning to have a new kind of followership that believes that leadership, the standard of leadership can actually increase and their participation could help shape Nigeria’s political space. Whatever it is that I decide to, I am. By the way, that poster that I did share was designed by my media team, and I think it’s kind of futuristic but also ambitious and daring.”
When asked if she planned to return to the Senate, she responded, “If I decide to, God’s sparing our lives, it depends. I have to speak to my husband first.”
The interviewer also asked about her ambition to become governor. “You still have the ambition of wanting to become governor. Which of them do you have now?”
She answered, “For me, I do believe in the power of now. I celebrate the moment and I just have tomorrow. I live tomorrow in trust.”
She continued, “I might not be alive by 2027, even though I pray to have a long, fulfilled life. But when… let’s complete this term. 2027 will be determined based on the consultations I will have first with my husband, my children, my family, associates, and of course my community. If they tell me, ‘Natasha, go ahead,’ I will go ahead. If they tell me, ‘Raise the bar, expand your political space,’ I will do so.”