Loyalists of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan have criticised the All Progressives Congress over the conduct of its House of Representatives and Senate primaries in Kogi State, describing the exercise as rancorous and poorly managed.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Senator Natasha’s Media Adviser, Samuel Idoko, said the crisis that followed the primaries had exposed the ruling party as disorganised and unprepared to continue leading the state.
“The irregularities witnessed during the APC primaries, from the House of Representatives elections down to the Senate primaries, are a huge embarrassment to a party that claims to be the ruling party. What Nigerians and Kogites have seen is confusion, manipulation, and lack of internal democracy,” Idoko said.
He also questioned the decision of the APC screening committee to clear former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to contest for the Senate despite his ongoing corruption cases with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Idoko described the clearance as shocking and disappointing, arguing that it had further weakened the party’s credibility on issues of accountability and transparency.
“The most shocking aspect is the clearance granted to former Governor Yahaya Bello, who is currently facing serious corruption cases with the EFCC, to contest for Senate. It is a major dent on the integrity of the APC and clearly shows that the party does not care about accountability,” he stated.
Idoko, who is also contesting for a seat in the Kogi State House of Assembly under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, said the unfolding crisis within the APC had strengthened his party’s chances ahead of future elections.
According to him, the PDP is gaining significant grassroots support across Kogi East and Kogi Central and is preparing to challenge for key elective positions.
“All these developments are advantages for the PDP. The people are tired, and they are ready for change. PDP is strongly positioned to win elections across Kogi East and Kogi Central, from the Senate down to the State House of Assembly seats,” he said.
He urged party supporters and residents of the state to remain united, insisting that the PDP remains committed to what he described as rescuing Kogi from bad governance and political injustice.
The criticism comes amid heightened political tension in Kogi following a series of controversial outcomes from the APC primary elections.
What You Should Know
The reaction from Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s loyalists reflects the growing political tension in Kogi State following the APC primaries.
Their criticism targets both the conduct of the elections and the clearance of Yahaya Bello despite his legal challenges. The development could further deepen political divisions in the state as parties begin positioning for the 2027 general elections.
For the PDP, the controversy presents an opportunity to capitalise on perceived internal cracks within the APC. How the ruling party manages the fallout may significantly shape political dynamics in Kogi over the coming months.
