POLITICAL TENSIONS have escalated in Kogi State following the planned homecoming event of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District.
The senator’s return, scheduled to coincide with the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations, has been met with resistance from the Kogi State Government and security agencies, citing security concerns and a recently imposed ban on political gatherings.
The Chairman of Okehi Local Government Area, Amoka Monday, imposed a curfew across the council area, aligning with the Kogi State Government’s directive to curb what it described as potential security threats. In a statement personally signed by the chairman, he announced that all unregulated public gatherings, including political rallies, were prohibited.
“The curfew, which takes immediate effect, restricts movement and gatherings in designated areas. Anyone found loitering or assembling in restricted zones without clearance from the relevant authorities will be arrested and prosecuted,” the statement read.
Kogi’s Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, further justified the state government’s stance, warning that recent security intelligence suggested a risk of violence. He noted that similar measures had been implemented in the past to maintain peace, particularly given Kogi’s history of politically motivated violence.
Despite the government’s ban, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has insisted on going ahead with her scheduled visit. In a statement on her official Facebook page, she dismissed speculations that she had cancelled her plans, stating:
“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 Gov Ododo, Yahaya Bello & SP Godswill Akpabio wholly responsible.”
Her remarks came shortly after security agencies, including the Kogi State Police Command, warned against defying the government’s directive. Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Miller Dantawaye, stated that intelligence reports suggested that hoodlums might hijack the rally, posing a threat to public peace.
“The Nigeria Police Force, Kogi State Police Command, has called on the organisers of the planned rally at Okene to cancel such an event in the interest of peace in Kogi State,” the police statement read.
Kogi State has been no stranger to political tensions and electoral violence.
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Between 2019 and 2023, Kogi State experienced a significant number of politically motivated violent incidents, particularly during election periods.
For instance, during the November 2019 governorship elections, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) reported at least 10 deaths and over 79 cases of electoral malpractice, including hijacking of materials, kidnapping of electoral staff, and vote-buying.
In the February 2023 presidential and senatorial elections, there were reports of thugs interfering in polling units across various local government areas, with incidents of violence and disruption of the electoral process.
Videos circulating on social media have shown hundreds of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s supporters, mainly women, singing and drumming in anticipation of her return. Supporters argue that the government’s directive is a politically motivated attempt to stifle opposition, while the state maintains that the measures are strictly for security purposes.
Meanwhile, the state government has urged residents to comply with the restrictions to ensure peace, warning that any attempt to defy the ban will be met with legal consequences.
