The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has stepped up grassroots mobilisation in Kogi Central ahead of the 2027 general elections, with supporters in Okehi Local Government Area declaring their backing for the re-election of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The mobilisation took place on Thursday as party loyalists, youths, women and other stakeholders took to the streets of Okehi in a solidarity road walk to canvass support for the senator and other PDP candidates ahead of the elections.

The exercise was particularly aimed at mobilising support for Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly.

Speaking during the road walk, the Kogi Central PDP 2027 Campaign Director-General, Alhaji Salami Etudaiye, described the mobilisation in Okehi as a reflection of what he called the growing strength of the party at the grassroots.

Etudaiye said Akpoti-Uduaghan’s first term had given constituents an opportunity to assess her performance and capacity, adding that the 2027 election should be used to consolidate on the progress already recorded.

“The people of Kogi Central have a choice to make, and that choice should be based on performance, capacity, courage and the ability to represent the collective interest of the people. Senator Natasha has demonstrated these qualities in her first tenure,” he said.

According to him, a second term would give the senator an opportunity to deepen legislative representation, expand constituency-focused interventions and pursue programmes capable of improving the socio-economic wellbeing of the people.

Etudaiye said the campaign for a second term would focus on consolidating existing gains while expanding interventions across the five local government areas.

He listed stronger advocacy for infrastructure, opportunities for young people, support for women and small businesses, education and skills acquisition, healthcare interventions and projects capable of creating sustainable economic opportunities among the priorities.

“A second tenure is not simply about returning an individual to office. It is about giving the people an opportunity to consolidate representation, experience and programmes that can have lasting impact.

“We are calling on our people across Kogi Central to unite behind Senator Natasha and all the PDP candidates,” he said.

The campaign leadership also appealed to voters in Adavi, Ajaokuta, Okehi, Okene and Ogori-Magongo to maintain unity and peaceful political engagement as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify.

A PDP supporter, Bashir Haroon, said the turnout demonstrated the confidence of the people in the senator and the party.
Haroon said the exercise was more than a political procession, describing it as a statement on the kind of representation the people desired.

“Okehi is standing firm with the PDP and with Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. We have seen her commitment, we have seen her courage, and we have seen the way she has continued to identify with the people.

“This support is not about politics alone; it is about standing with a representative who has demonstrated that she understands the aspirations of her constituents,” he said.

He urged communities across Kogi Central to remain united and ensure that the support for Akpoti-Uduaghan and the PDP translates into votes in the 2027 elections.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, a PDP member, was elected to represent Kogi Central in the Senate in the 2023 general elections.

Kogi Central comprises Adavi, Ajaokuta, Okehi, Okene and Ogori-Magongo local government areas and remains an important political constituency in the state.

Since assuming office, the senator has been a prominent voice in the National Assembly, while her activities and political engagements have continued to attract national attention.

Her supporters maintain that her first term has laid the foundation for further interventions in areas such as human capital development, education, youth empowerment, women development, infrastructure and constituency representation.