Published by Osasere Edomwonyi Ikpoba
The Kogi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has launched a comprehensive grassroots mobilisation campaign aimed at ensuring the return of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Senate in 2027, declaring that the party will leave no stone unturned in its quest to reclaim the Kogi Central Senatorial District seat from the All Progressives Congress. The announcement was made on Thursday by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan herself, following a strategic meeting with PDP leaders and stakeholders in the district, where she outlined the party's plans to mobilise voters and build a formidable campaign structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was controversially ousted from the Senate by the Supreme Court in 2024, told a gathering of party faithful in Okene that the PDP had resolved to ensure that the will of the people was respected in 2027. She said the party would deploy a comprehensive grassroots engagement strategy to mobilise voters across the five local government areas of Kogi Central, including Adavi, Ajaokuta, Okehi, Okene, and Ogori-Magongo, to ensure that the district was reclaimed for the PDP. According to her, the campaign would be anchored on the principles of justice, fairness, and good governance, which she said the people of Kogi Central had been denied since her removal.
The former senator, who was elected in February 2023 under the PDP before the Supreme Court nullified her victory and declared Abubakar Ohere of the APC the rightful winner in September 2024, stated that she remained committed to the cause of the people of Kogi Central and would not be deterred by the challenges of the past. She recalled that her election was a clear expression of the will of the people, and that the Supreme Court ruling that removed her was a technical decision that did not reflect the true choice of the electorate. "The people of Kogi Central voted for me, and they have continued to stand by me. The Supreme Court ruling may have removed me from the Senate, but it has not removed me from the hearts of the people. In 2027, we will return to the Senate with the full force of the people's mandate," Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan declared.
The senator's comments were echoed by the Kogi State PDP Chairman, Hon. Enemona Anyebe, who described Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan as the "rightful occupant" of the Kogi Central senatorial seat and said the party would do everything within its power to ensure that justice was done in 2027. He praised Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for her resilience and commitment to the welfare of her constituents, noting that the people of Kogi Central had continued to rally behind her despite the political challenges she had faced. He also expressed confidence that the PDP would emerge victorious in 2027, not only in Kogi Central but across the state, as the APC had failed to deliver on its promises to the people. "The people of Kogi Central know who their true representative is. They know that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has their interests at heart. We will mobilise every community, every household, and every voter to ensure that their voice is heard in 2027. We will not be cowed by the political establishment," Anyebe said.
The PDP's campaign in Kogi Central is part of a broader strategy to regain control of the state, which the APC has dominated since 2015. The party's leadership in the state has been working to rebuild its structures and strengthen its presence at the grassroots level, with a focus on addressing the concerns of ordinary Nigerians, including unemployment, insecurity, and poverty. The PDP has also been reaching out to other opposition parties to form a coalition that could challenge the APC in the 2027 general elections.
The mobilisation campaign is expected to intensify in the coming months, with the party's leadership planning a series of town hall meetings and community engagements across Kogi Central. The party's vice presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, who was also present at the meeting, called on the people of Kogi Central to remain united and support Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan's bid to return to the Senate. "The PDP is committed to the welfare of the people of Kogi Central, and we are confident that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan will continue to champion the cause of the people if given the opportunity. We call on all well-meaning Nigerians to support her and the PDP in the 2027 elections," Okowa said.
The PDP's grassroots push, however, faces significant challenges. The APC has been consolidating its hold on Kogi State, with Governor Usman Ododo's administration implementing policies aimed at improving infrastructure and social services. The APC is also likely to field a formidable candidate in Kogi Central, with the incumbent Senator Abubakar Ohere expected to seek re-election. The APC has also been accused of deploying state apparatus to suppress opposition, a claim that the party has denied. The political terrain in Kogi State is notoriously volatile, with a history of electoral violence and irregularities. The PDP will need to navigate these challenges while mobilising support for Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan also announced plans to empower women and youth in the district and to address the challenges facing her constituents, including unemployment, poverty, and insecurity. She stated that her campaign would focus on the issues that matter most to the people of Kogi Central, including access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. "I have not forgotten the promises I made to the people of Kogi Central. I will continue to fight for their rights and to ensure that they have access to the opportunities they deserve. Our campaign will be about the issues that affect our people, and we will not be distracted by the politics of division and hate," Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan said.
The push to return Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Senate is seen as a test of the PDP's resilience and its ability to mobilise voters in the face of formidable opposition. The party's leadership in the state has expressed confidence that the people of Kogi Central will once again vote for Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, and that the Supreme Court ruling will not stand in the way of the people's will. As the 2027 elections approach, the battle for Kogi Central is set to be one of the most closely watched contests in the country, and the outcome will have significant implications for the PDP's fortunes in Kogi State and beyond.
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