Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, supporters defy ban, hold homecoming gathering

The supporters of the suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, have ignored the police and Kogi State Government ban on rally over security concerns, as the Senator returned home after her controversial suspension by the Senate.

Penpushing reports that the supporters took to the streets to welcome the senator which was her first homecoming since her suspension by the senate, as pictures and videos posted on social media on Tuesday showed a rousing welcome for Akpoti-Udughan.

The Senator addressing her supporters declared that she did not break any law, adding that she was not having a rally, as the police and the state government banned such event.

“Yesterday, we heard on the news that rallies and gatherings will not be allowed, that roads will be blocked, and convoys leading into the state will not be allowed. I knew that we were the targets. But then I said, this is not political season, this is not campaign time’, she was quoted saying.

‘We are not having a rally. This is just me, the senator representing Kogi Central, coming down to her people to celebrate this festive time – the Sallah with you, and there is nothing wrong with that. I am breaking no law. This is Nigeria. We have the right to be free, to express our choice in gatherings and celebrations’, she stated.

Penpushing further reports that Akpoti-Udughan had earlier stated that should anything contrary happen to her, Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo; his predecessor, Yahaya Bello, and Senate President, Godswill Akpabio should be held responsible

“My dear people of Kogi Central, I look forward to our PEACEFUL Sallah celebrations today. However, should we be met with or infiltrated by violence, Nigerians should hold Governor Ododo, Yahaya Bello and SP Godswill Akpabio wholly responsible’ she wrote.

Penpushing also reports that it is recalled that the Kogi State Police Command had stopped the rally over alleged plans by hoodlums to hijack the process and cause disturbance of peace in the state and banned rallies, citing security concerns.

The suspension of the female Senator by the National Assembly on March 6, 2025, it is recalled made national and international headlines.

Penpushing reports that the Commissioner in the state, Miller Dantawaye, however, announced the ban in a statement explaining that the state government had earlier banned all forms of rallies and processions following an intelligence report on security threats in Kogi State.

The Commissioner in the statement issued by the Command Public Relations Officer Williams Ovye-Aya on Tuesday urged organisers of the planned rally to cancel it in the interest of peace in the state.

‘The commissioner of police in Kogi hereby urges organisers of the planned rally to cancel it in the interest of peace in the state. The call for cancellation became necessary following intelligence revelations that some hoodlums planned to hijack the process and cause disturbance of peace in the state’, the statement reads.

“The command cannot afford to jeopardize the existing peace the state is currently enjoying. In view of the security threat received on the planned rally, the command is, therefore, advising the organisers to cancel the event so as to avoid any breakdown of law and order’, it added

Penpushing further reports that the commissioner equally warned that the police would not hesitate to apply the full wrath of the law on anyone who disturbs the peace and order of the state

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