Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has firmly stated she will not defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) despite repeated overtures from individuals linked to the Presidency and some legislators. Akpoti-Uduaghan, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made the remarks in a recent interview on the Mic On Podcast with Seun Okinbaloye, which was posted on YouTube.
According to the senator, the approaches to join the ruling party have been persistent and have come from high-profile quarters, including presidential affiliates and colleagues in the National Assembly. She said she has been approached multiple times with the suggestion or pressure that she should follow other politicians who have crossed to the APC.
Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasised that she values her political independence and peace, expressing comfort with her current party affiliation and dismissing the ruling party as an option for her, even amid internal tensions within the PDP. She recalled that she was briefly a member of the APC early in her political career but has since charted her own path.
The senator also touched on her future political plans, saying that discussions about a potential re-election bid in 2027 are ongoing within her party but she warned that nothing has been decided. Speculation about possible challengers, including former Governor Yahaya Bello, did not deter her, as she declared she would face any contender after consultation with her family, constituents and party.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s position comes amid broader political realignment in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 elections, as several opposition figures have defected to the APC, reshaping the legislative landscape and prompting debate about party loyalty and political strategy.
