Again, OK Movement, Natasha clash over constituency cash giveaway

The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement and the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, have renewed their disagreement over the lawmaker’s distribution of millions of naira to constituents, with the group insisting that the exercise raises questions about electoral integrity.

The latest exchange followed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s criticism of the movement for calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate her cash empowerment programme, which she said was funded through a Federal Government budgetary provision.

The senator had also maintained that she would honour any invitation from the anti-graft agency and explain the circumstances surrounding the distribution.

However, in a fresh interview with The PUNCH, the Director-General of OK Movement, John Ughulu, said the senator’s position did not address the concerns raised by the group.

Ughulu argued that elected public officials should be subjected to continuous orientation on their constitutional responsibilities, ethical standards and accountability.

The politician said the circumstances surrounding the public distribution of money to constituents raised questions about the possible abuse of public office and the integrity of the electoral process.

He said, “What Nigerians witnessed in the widely discussed money distribution incident raises serious questions about the abuse of public office and the integrity of our electoral process.

“If the circumstances establish that the money was distributed to influence voters ahead of an election, the matter could amount to advance vote buying and should be investigated under the relevant provisions of Nigerian electoral law.”

Ughulu challenged the senator to explain whether similar cash distributions featured in her electoral campaigns, insisting that the circumstances surrounding her emergence into the National Assembly also deserved scrutiny.

“The election that brought Senator Natasha into the National Assembly was decided by the people. Therefore, an important question must be asked: Was the same practice of distributing money to influence voters involved in securing her electoral victory?

“That question deserves a factual answer, not an emotional reaction,” he said.

The movement also dismissed suggestions that its criticism was politically motivated, saying its position on electoral accountability would apply to candidates across party lines, including those of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.

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“We cannot condemn alleged electoral malpractice under the present administration while appearing to tolerate similar conduct from individuals within our own political space. The same standards of integrity, transparency and accountability must apply to everyone.

“The OK Movement will not make exceptions for anyone. This applies equally to NDC candidates and candidates of every other political party. Anyone involved in electoral manipulation, vote buying, result falsification or any attempt to undermine the will of the electorate should expect lawful scrutiny and accountability,” he stated.

Ughulu further warned that the group would explore lawful means of seeking accountability if the EFCC or other relevant agencies failed to investigate credible allegations.

He said the 2027 elections should be determined by voters at polling units, adding that the movement was committed to transparency, proper documentation of results and protection of voters’ rights.

The latest exchange comes days after Akpoti-Uduaghan defended her cash empowerment programme in a video circulating on social media.

The senator insisted that the money was provided through a Federal Government budgetary allocation and that she personally brought it before beneficiaries to ensure transparency.

She said, “Well, I have not been invited by the EFCC. But, of course, if I’m invited, I will turn up and explain the following things. Number one, the cash empowerment was money from the Federal Government. It’s budgeted by the Federal Government, okay? And I, in my typical fashion, do things transparently.

“I brought the money personally before the people. The money was all placed on a platform. There was no money abuse. And you saw the hall was full to its brim. We had about 600 beneficiaries.

“But the Obi-Kwankwaso group, please, I don’t know how authentic you are. But if you are, you have NDC senators in the Senate. And they’re also able to bring these same opportunities to you. So rather than using your efforts to call on EFCC to investigate why I am giving such an amount of money to my constituents, I think you should channel that energy to your senators and tell them to do the same for you.”

The controversy followed the circulation of photographs and videos showing bundles of cash at an empowerment programme organised by the senator to mark her third anniversary in the 10th National Assembly.

Her action attracted criticism on social media, with some Nigerians questioning the propriety of publicly displaying large sums of money during a constituency empowerment programme.

Akpoti-Uduaghan subsequently defended the decision to distribute cash rather than business equipment, explaining through her media aide, Mike Idoko, that previous empowerment exercises showed that some beneficiaries preferred direct financial assistance to equipment because of their immediate business needs.