Natasha Asks Kogi Central Voters To Assess Candidates By Performance, Integrity

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, has told voters to scrutinise the candidates’ records ahead of the 2027 general elections.

She stressed that integrity, accountability and demonstrable achievements should guide their decisions at the polls.

In a statement issued by her media office in Abuja, yesterday, the senator said the forthcoming elections would provide an opportunity for constituents to assess political office holders based on their performance and contributions to public 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.”

Her remarks come amid growing political attention on Kogi Central ahead of the 2027 senatorial election, following former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello’s expression of confidence in defeating the incumbent senator.

Bello, who governed the state from 2016 to 2024, spoke on TVC’s Politics Sunday, where he predicted victory for himself and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Asked what election day would bring, he responded, “Massive vote. Decisive victory,” clarifying that his prediction was for himself and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Against this backdrop, Akpoti-Uduaghan urged voters to look beyond campaign rhetoric and party affiliations, maintaining that candidates should be assessed based on verifiable achievements and their records in public office.

Highlighting her interventions in Kogi Central, Akpoti-Uduaghan listed road construction, potable water projects, school blocks, scholarships, digital learning tools, healthcare facilities, markets for women and solar-powered streetlights among the initiatives she said had been undertaken during her tenure.

“My stewardship has been framed by a focus on addressing the critical needs of my people,” she said.

The senator also outlined her priorities for the 2027–2031 period, saying she intended to consolidate existing achievements and expand development across the district.

“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 said.

The emerging political contest has drawn attention to the public service records of both Akpoti-Uduaghan and Bello, whose eight-year tenure as governor provides a basis for examining his administration’s policies, projects and performance.

As political activities gather momentum ahead of the elections, voters have an opportunity to evaluate candidates’ claims against documented projects, official records and residents’ experiences.

Key considerations include the delivery and impact of constituency projects, legislative contributions, policy decisions, responsiveness to constituents and the fulfilment of previous commitments.

A community leader, Saidu Bello, who expressed support for the senator, said voters should compare her record with those of other political figures who have 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.

Similarly, a young entrepreneur, Farouk Lamisi, said young people in the district were increasingly concerned about political performance and the practical benefits of representation.

“Voting for Yahaya Bello is to endorse blatant failure, and we will not do that! We know better now,” Lamisi said.

As the 2027 general elections approach, accountability, integrity and performance are likely to feature prominently in discussions about political representation in Kogi Central.

The emerging contest provides voters with an opportunity to examine candidates’ records, assess their contributions to public service and determine how their policies and interventions have addressed the district’s development needs.

Areas of public interest include infrastructure, education, healthcare, access to potable water, economic opportunities and the effectiveness of representation at the National Assembly.

Ultimately, voters will have to weigh the candidates’ records, scrutinise their claims and assess their commitments to addressing the needs of Kogi Central before deciding who should represent the district in the next political cycle.