Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has said she has no plans to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), despite repeated pressure and invitations from powerful political figures.
The senator revealed that she has been approached several times by people linked to the Presidency and even by some of her colleagues in the National Assembly, asking her to defect to the APC. However, she said she has consistently turned down such offers because she is comfortable in her current party and does not believe in joining the ruling party simply because it is in power.
Akpoti-Uduaghan made these comments during a recent interview on the Mic On Podcast, hosted by journalist Seun Okinbaloye. The interview was posted on YouTube on Saturday and has since attracted attention across the political space.
When asked whether joining the APC was an option for her if things became difficult in the PDP, the senator gave a firm response. She said she had already experienced life in the APC briefly in the past and did not see any reason to return.
“I was in APC briefly at the start of everything. Why should I go and join APC?” she asked. “I don’t have to follow the bandwagon. I don’t have to succumb to any threats or fall for any cajolery.”
She explained that the invitations to defect have been persistent and came from high places. According to her, some people from the Presidency and even fellow lawmakers have tried to persuade her to join the ruling party.
“I have been approached many times. I have been approached by people from the Presidency, from even my colleagues,” she said. “Even as recently as yesterday, one joked about it, saying, ‘We’re still expecting, we would love to have you.’”
Despite these advances, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she values her peace of mind and feels settled within the PDP for now. “I love my space, I love my peace here. I’m okay with my party now, so I don’t think I have to join the APC,” she added.
Her comments come at a time when party defections have become common in Nigerian politics, especially from opposition parties to the ruling APC. Many politicians often cite internal party crises, lack of support, or the desire to align with the federal government as reasons for switching parties.
The PDP, Nigeria’s main opposition party, has in recent times been battling leadership disputes and internal disagreements, which have affected its unity at both national and state levels. These challenges have led to fears that more elected officials may leave the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Akpoti-Uduaghan also spoke about her political future and the possibility of contesting for a second term in the Senate in 2027. She said discussions were ongoing within her party, but no final decision had been taken.
“I may vie for the Senate again, and that conversation is currently ongoing with my political party, but it is not certain,” she said.
On the issue of the PDP crisis, the senator warned that unresolved leadership problems could force her and others to reconsider their political platforms ahead of the next election.
“If by any chance I decide to contest in 2027 and the PDP hasn’t resolved its crisis, I need just a month to choose a platform of my choice, and my people will move with me,” she said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan also addressed rumours that the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, may be planning to contest for the Kogi Central senatorial seat in 2027. Bello, who governed Kogi State from 2016 to 2024, is from the same senatorial district as the senator.
Reacting to the speculation, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was not afraid of facing Bello in any election contest.
“If by any chance I make up my mind after due consultation with my family, constituents and political party, and I am on the ballot against former Governor Yahaya Bello in 2027, then I would say, bring it on,” she declared.
She went further to say that Bello had already tried to stop her political rise in the past but failed. “I am not scared of Yahaya Bello. I am his nightmare. He was a sitting governor and wielded all the powers at his disposal against me, and I defeated his candidate in 2023,” she said.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is currently serving her first term in the 10th National Assembly. She represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, which includes several local government areas in Kogi State. Her emergence as senator followed a long and closely contested legal battle after the 2023 general elections.
During the 2023 senatorial election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) initially declared Abubakar Sadiku-Ohere of the APC as the winner. However, Akpoti-Uduaghan, who contested on the platform of the PDP, rejected the result and challenged it at the election petition tribunal.
She argued that the election was flawed and that the declared result did not reflect the true votes cast by the people of Kogi Central. After months of legal proceedings, the tribunal sitting in Lokoja delivered its judgment in September.
The tribunal nullified the election of Ohere and declared Akpoti-Uduaghan the rightful winner. According to the judgment, she scored 54,074 votes, while Ohere polled 51,291 votes. The ruling was widely seen as a major victory for the PDP in Kogi State and for Akpoti-Uduaghan, who had previously contested for office without success.
Her victory also marked a rare political defeat for the APC in the state, which had been dominated by the party during Yahaya Bello’s tenure as governor.
Since taking her seat in the Senate, Akpoti-Uduaghan has become one of the prominent voices from Kogi State, often speaking on governance, accountability, and the role of opposition parties in strengthening democracy.
As Nigeria gradually shifts focus toward the 2027 general elections, her comments on party loyalty, political pressure, and possible future contests highlight the growing tension within and between political parties. For now, however, the senator insists that she remains committed to the PDP and is not ready to join the APC, regardless of the pressure placed before her.