Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan: We maintain the Central Constitutional Memory-Kogi process

The indigenous Ebira have firmly condemned the claims that the recovery process against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central in the National Assembly, lacks the majority support of the electorate.

Some indigenous people from all five areas of the local government of Kogi Central have reaffirmed their commitment to remember the senator, citing the shame that the senatorial district has allegedly caused, a problem that, they say, has now gained international attention.

In a statement issued on Thursday and signed jointly by Alhaji Ibrahim Abdulazeez Ibrahim, president of the Kogi Central Elites Forum, Kcef, and Prince Akerejola Johnson de Ogori/Magongo Lga, the constituents dismissed the complaints that the memory was manipulated or organized by external forces.

“No one is sponsoring this retirement. Our people are united in this cause. Historically, Ebiras cannot be deceived. What he has done has been largely propaganda.

“Even those of us who initially support it on social networks have withdrawn our support. We cannot compromise the integrity of our state and country for the immature and selfish actions of a senator.

“A simple matter of rejecting a seat assigned in the Senate should not have intensified in a national shame with unfounded accusations of ‘sexual harassment’, especially when all evidence points to blackmail. It is not who we are like Ebiras,” reads the statement.

When addressing the discharge of responsibility for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, with respect to the recovery process, the constituents clarified that INEC’s participation comes later in the process.

“The INEC does not have an official role until the signature collection phase is completed. We, the petitioners, are responsible for ensuring that the required threshold is fulfilled before it formally submitted it for verification. That is when INEC intervenes,” they said.

They urged the public to ignore deceptive narratives, emphasizing that political statements often reflect individual prejudices and created interests.

“As Ebira people, we are determined to bring Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan back home. Perhaps, during her time here, she will get a better understanding of the responsibilities of representing her voters.

“In general, we would never tolerate our daughter’s intimidation if she were on the right. However, in this case, she did not respect the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who operates under clear rules and introduced previously unheard of narrations in the history of the Senate.

“We have carried out our investigations and we know the truth. The legislation is not the creation of content, as many have suggested. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan must return home to learn the foundations of legislative representation,” the statement added.

This development follows the accusations of sexual harassment against the president of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, who have further promoted controversy within the National Assembly.