Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan APC defection claims spark debate as the Kogi Central senator insists she will remain in the PDP
The Senator representing Kogi Central, Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has disclosed that individuals allegedly linked to the Presidency have been pressuring her to defect to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
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Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan said she has firmly rejected the overtures and has no intention of leaving the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
She made the disclosure during an interview with journalist Seun Okinbaloye on the Mic On Podcast at the weekend.
The senator said she was comfortable in the PDP and valued the peace and political stability she currently enjoys within the opposition party.
According to her, attempts to influence her political allegiance are not new, but she has consistently chosen a path she believes aligns with her convictions.
Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan recalled that she once faced pressure to relocate her political base to Delta State following her marriage, a move she said she resisted.
She said the experience strengthened her resolve to remain steadfast in her political choices, despite personal and professional challenges.
The lawmaker urged women seeking elective office to remain courageous and focused, even when confronted with intimidation or persuasion.
Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan acknowledged that she was briefly a member of the APC at the early stage of her political career but said she saw no reason to return to the ruling party.
She said approaches urging her to join the APC had come from various quarters, including individuals in the Presidency and some of her colleagues, with the most recent contact occurring a day before the interview.
“I don’t have to follow the bandwagon. I don’t have to succumb to threats or cajolement,” the senator said.
She added that her decision to remain in the PDP was deliberate and rooted in her desire for independence and peace of mind.
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The remarks come amid ongoing defections and realignments across Nigeria’s political landscape, as parties position themselves ahead of future electoral contests.
