The senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has disclosed that she has been approached on several occasions by individuals from the Presidency and by some of her colleagues to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawmaker, however, said she firmly rejected the overtures, stressing her unwavering commitment to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite the ongoing internal crisis within the opposition party.
Akpoti-Uduaghan made the revelation during a recent interview on the Mic On Podcast hosted by Seun Okinbaloye, which was posted on YouTube on Saturday.
According to her, the approaches were persistent, but she remained resolute in her decision to stay with the PDP, the platform on which she was elected to represent the people of Kogi Central.
She noted that while the PDP is currently grappling with leadership and structural challenges, these issues are not sufficient grounds for her to abandon the party. The senator emphasised that political loyalty, ideology and integrity should outweigh convenience, especially for elected officials entrusted with a mandate by the electorate.
Akpoti-Uduaghan further stated that her focus remains on providing effective representation and delivering tangible development to her constituents, adding that her political choices would always be guided by principle rather than pressure or inducement.
Her disclosure comes amid a wave of defections by opposition lawmakers to the ruling party, a trend that has continued to shape Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of future electoral contests.
