Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, has called on voters to evaluate political candidates strictly on their records, insisting that verifiable achievements should outweigh campaign promises ahead of the 2027 general elections. Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Sunday, she argued that the upcoming elections would test whether officeholders had made good use of their time in service. "Most of those contesting have held elective positions before," she said. "So, electorates will have to judge us based on what we have been able to achieve when we had the opportunity to serve."
Yahaya Bello Declares Confidence in Defeating Incumbent
Her remarks came in the same week that former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello publicly declared his intention to unseat her in the Kogi Central senatorial contest. Speaking on TVC's Politics Sunday, Bello, who governed the state from 2016 to 2024, predicted a decisive outcome on election day. "Massive vote. Decisive victory," he said, specifying that the prediction applied to himself and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Natasha Lists Achievements in Office
Defending her three years in the Senate, Akpoti-Uduaghan pointed to road construction, potable water schemes, school blocks, scholarships, digital learning equipment, healthcare facilities, markets for women, and solar-powered streetlights as tangible outcomes from her tenure. "My stewardship has been framed by a focus on addressing the critical needs of my people," she said. Looking ahead, she expressed hope to build on that foundation if re-elected. "From 2027–2031, I intend to consolidate on the foundation I have laid, and do more to advance my vision of a prosperous, peaceful, and infrastructurally developed Kogi Central," she added.
Accountability at the Centre of Kogi Central Race
The contest has prompted residents to compare the records of both figures. Community leader Saidu Bello said voters should measure the senator's work against that of others who have previously held public office. "All of Kogi Central knows that Senator Natasha is the only choice. She has been there for only three years and we have felt the impact all around us," he said. Young entrepreneur Farouk Lamisi argued that younger voters in the district were now more focused on practical outcomes from political representation. "Voting for Yahaya Bello is to endorse blatant failure, and we will not do that! We know better now," Lamisi said. Both supporters represent one side of a debate that will ultimately be settled by the broader electorate at the ballot box.
