Politics

“I’ve Faced Bigger Challenges” — Natasha Unworried by Yahaya Bello’s 2027 Senate Ambition

Published by admin on January 4th, 2026.

“I’ve Faced Bigger Challenges” — Natasha Unworried by Yahaya Bello’s 2027 Senate Ambition

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central in the National Assembly, has played down concerns that former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello’s decision to contest her seat in the 2027 elections poses any threat to her political standing.

Reacting to Bello’s declaration, the senator said she remains calm and confident, describing his entry into the race as neither surprising nor intimidating. According to her, the development has not put her under any form of pressure.

Speaking through her Special Adviser on Media, Mike Idoko, in an interview with *Sunday PUNCH*, Akpoti-Uduaghan dismissed suggestions that Bello’s ambition could unsettle her. “We do not see it as a threat at all. If anything, we welcome it. We are ready,” she said.

Akpoti-Uduaghan currently occupies the Kogi Central Senatorial seat, having secured victory in the 2023 election after a prolonged legal contest. A lawyer and former governorship aspirant, she made history as the first woman to represent the district in the Nigerian Senate.

Bello, who served as Kogi State governor between 2016 and 2024, formally announced his intention to run for the Kogi Central Senate seat during a recent visit to the palace of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland. The meeting brought together traditional rulers, religious leaders, political stakeholders and community figures from across the senatorial district.

During the visit, Bello openly declared his intention to seek election to the Senate in 2027, a moment later shared in a video posted on his verified Facebook page. “I accept the call to run for the Senate in 2027,” he stated while addressing the gathering.

The event was attended by the current Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, alongside other prominent leaders. Governor Ododo was said to have urged his predecessor to answer calls from party leaders and constituents encouraging him to represent the district at the National Assembly.

Political observers say Bello’s declaration sets the stage for a closely watched and potentially intense contest for the Kogi Central Senatorial seat ahead of the 2027 general elections.