Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP{ Kogi Central) claims that Senate President Godswill Akpabio instructed Kogi State’s ex-Governor Yahaya Bello to have her killed whenever she showed up in her constituency.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who internationalised her sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio, made this new allegation on Tuesday at a grand homecoming reception organised by her supporters in Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State.
“The meeting was in two phases,” she said. “Akpabio told Yahaya Bello to commence my recall process and assured him that he would fund it. Of course, money changed hands that night. The second thing he told him was to try and have me killed.”
She further alleged that Akpabio specifically instructed Bello to ensure that the assassination did not take place in Abuja.
“I didn’t make this public earlier, but I reported it to the Inspector General of Police (Kayode Egbetokun). Akpabio told Yahaya Bello— and I stand by what I am saying— that he should ensure my killing does not happen in Abuja. It should be done in Kogi so it would appear as if the people here were responsible,” she alleged.
The rift between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio became public on February 20, 2025, when the latter was involved in a heated exchange with the Senate over a change of her seat at the Senate.
Following this, the Senate suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan and revoked all her privileges, citing misconduct in the upper legislative chamber as the reason.
The conflict escalated when she accused Akpabio of sexual harassment.Detailing the timeline of events, she stated that on March 12, Akpabio called Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo, urging him to begin the process of recalling her from the Senate.
However, Ododo allegedly responded that it would be impossible because “the masses are with her.”
“Akpabio was not satisfied,” she said.
“He then sent for Yahaya Bello. It was actually Senator Asuquo from Cross River who drove Yahaya Bello from the Hilton Hotel to the meeting. I was informed of everything when I got to know about it.”
According to her, on March 14, around 10:30 PM, she received calls confirming that Yahaya Bello was meeting with Akpabio.
“I immediately notified security agencies,” she stated. “I also reached out to media houses, including ThisDay and Punch, trying to get them to publish the information in advance. But without solid evidence, they were unable to do so.
“They asked if I had proof that my recall had been planned. I said I didn’t have hard evidence, but I knew the meeting had taken place and what was discussed.”
She added that three days later, the recall process officially began.
“When it happened, people called me, saying, ‘Oh, you were right.’ I told them I had warned about it. What happened next? They went around deceiving our women, claiming there was an empowerment programme to get their support,” she added.
