Mrs. Akpoti-uduaghan also praised the INEC for abandoning the petition seeking her recall.
Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan said she has relied on her use of helicopters in her hometown.
Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan revealed this when she appeared on “Politics Today” on Thursday when she appeared on Channel TV’s programme.
The senator flew to Ihima in her hometown of Okehi Local Government Area in Kogi State on Tuesday, where she spoke to a large number of supporters.
A day before the trip, the state government had banned political and public gatherings, citing security concerns.
The state police command also said there was a credible intelligence that Hoodlam planned to hijack the rally to unleash the mayhem.
However, Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan and her supporters refused the ban to hold the rally.
She explained that several checkpoints were built along the way to her hometown, prompting her to explore other options until her husband suggested using a helicopter.
The lawmakers landed and left the state by helicopter.
“It was my husband’s idea. I know they blocked all the roads leading to my home, so my husband suggested we fly with the helicopter,” she said, claiming she was a target of the restrictions.
“I didn’t break the law.”
The lawmakers who fought claimed that she did not break any law during the Homecoming gathering and visit to the state.
“The law is not broken and I don’t think the governor has the right to direct what I’m talking about and how I speak to his people.”
She explained that several checkpoints were built along the way to her hometown, prompting her to explore other options until her husband suggested using a helicopter.
Relationship with Gov Ododo
Regarding her relationship with governor Usman Ododo, Mrs. Akpoti-uduaghan said, “We thought it was cool.
She added that of the 14 people who signed the cover page for her recall petition, at least four were Mr Ododo’s aides, and that the governor gave approval for the process.
“I was actually surprised. If I saw my speech in my hometown, the Senate President first called on Governor Ododo to start my recall, but he refused. No… All the initial cover letters were signed by Ododo’s own special advisor,” she said.
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INEC thumb
The lawmaker praised INEC for abandoning the petition in search of her recall, noting that the petition should have been dumped earlier.
She said her team checked with the Corporate Affairs Committee (CAC) and found that the group that wrote the petition was not registered and the address given by the petitioner did not exist.
“There’s number 4 in Oborok, Kogi. There’s no such address. Oborok is just five minutes from me. I sent people there. There was no address. Most streets in my hometown are not labeled,” she said.
“What I say is, even if INEC counted 208 signatures, if they were going to the next stage, if they were going to the verification stage, 500 people would have been struggling to come out to sign it.
Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan said that even if the petitioner resumes the process again, he is not worried about the recall.
“I trust my people and I’m not worried because my people will connect with me,” she said.
“They resonate with the idea of me projecting, and they are actually very pleased with the way I represent them. They are very pleased with me. My election was not apolitical. It wasn’t just PDP who voted for me.
