Natasha Akpoti, a senatorial candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State, has expressed her disappointment over the destruction of roads leading to her hometown, which she claimed was a deliberate attempt to prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from supplying voting materials. In a video shared online, Natasha pointed out the damage, which she alleged was done by the state governor, Yahaya Bello, to disenfranchise some citizens.
Response from Kogi State Government
She noted that efforts were being made to get the excavator to cover the roads to ease the accessibility and distribution of election materials. However, the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, disclosed that the road destruction was a deliberate security measure to cut off traffic to restrict the use of the roads by criminals who had been breaching the peace of the area.
Fanwo stated that Natasha’s outburst could mean she was benefitting from the seeming insecurity in Kogi Central. According to him, Natasha, as an indigene of Okehi Local Government Area, had not considered it necessary to sympathise with the people over the recent explosion but was quick to characteristically blackmail the State Government when measures were taken to protect her people. He warned those sponsoring terrorism in the state to desist as security agents have enough evidence to nab masterminds.
The state government called on Kogites to disregard allegations of trying to use local militias to harass voters during the election. The destruction of the road has caused concern among citizens who fear that it may affect the distribution of election materials and the conduct of the election in the area.
