The Press Secretary of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Isaiah Davies Ijele, has claimed that the Nigerian Senate and the Kogi State Government are wary of suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan due to her strong grassroots support.
During an interview with ARISE Television on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, Ijele accused the Kogi government of using political intimidation tactics after it imposed a last-minute ban on public gatherings ahead of Natasha’s planned homecoming rally.
He dismissed the government’s justification of security concerns, asserting that the real motivation behind the restrictions was Natasha’s increasing political influence.
The SDP official criticized the state government for what he described as a double standard in addressing security issues. He pointed out that in 2024, more than 30 people were killed in Omala Local Government Area, yet no curfew or rally restrictions were enforced at the time.
“They are nervous. They fear Natasha’s charisma and connection with the people,” he said. “Among all the senators, she is one of the few who won a clean and fair election without political manipulation. She has the grassroots support, and that is why they feel threatened.”
Ijele further accused the government of ignoring widespread insecurity in certain areas, including his hometown, Bagana, which he claimed had been completely destroyed by bandits. According to him, residents had been displaced for over two years without meaningful intervention from the government.
“The people have been in IDP camps for two years, yet the Kogi State Government never declared a state of emergency there,” he said. “However, they imposed one in Ihima, where no lives had been lost.”
He also criticized the authorities for failing to address security issues in areas such as Ejule and Aloma, which he described as major centers for kidnapping and banditry.
