ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has disclosed that she has repeatedly turned down invitations to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying she has no intention of leaving the Peoples Democratic Party despite its internal challenges.
The Kogi Central lawmaker said the approaches came from individuals connected to the Presidency as well as from some of her colleagues, but she maintained that remaining in the PDP gives her peace and political clarity.
She made the revelation during an appearance on Mic On Podcast, hosted by Seun Okinbaloye, which aired on YouTube on Saturday.
Responding to questions on whether joining the APC could become an option if the crisis within the PDP persists, Akpoti-Uduaghan dismissed the idea, noting that she had already experienced the ruling party earlier in her political journey.
She said she was not inclined to follow political trends or succumb to pressure, adding that repeated attempts had been made to persuade her to cross over.
According to her, some of the overtures were made jokingly, including one as recently as the previous day, but she remained unmoved, insisting that she was comfortable with her current political space and had no need to defect.
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The senator also disclosed that discussions were ongoing about her possible re-election bid, though she stressed that no final decision had been reached.
Addressing speculations that former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, might seek a Senate seat in 2027, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was unfazed by the prospect, declaring that she had already defeated his political structure once.
She recalled that Bello was in office during the 2023 elections and deployed the full weight of incumbency against her, yet she still emerged victorious.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is serving her first term in the 10th National Assembly, represents the same senatorial district as the former governor.
She contested the Kogi Central seat on the platform of the PDP in the 2023 general election but was initially denied victory after Abubakar Sadiku-Ohere of the APC was declared winner.
Unhappy with the outcome, she approached the election petition tribunal in Lokoja, which later nullified Ohere’s election and declared her the rightful winner with 54,074 votes, ahead of Ohere’s 51,291 votes.
Looking ahead, the senator said she would prefer to seek re-election on the PDP platform but warned that unresolved leadership disputes within the party could force her to explore other options.
She added that if such a situation arises, she would require only a short time to align with another political platform, stressing that her constituents would follow her decision.