Dons Eze
WHO IS THE REAL SENATOR NATASHA AKPOTI?
Senator Natasha Akpoti is a polarizing figure in Nigerian politics, known for her ambition, resilience, andf a trail of controversies that have defined her rise. At the heart of her public persona lies a knack of pivoting from one controversy to another. Many of these allegations are often polarising and evoking strong emotions, dying away when a light of truth is used to illuminate it. Her journey from schoolyards to the Senate is a blend of achievement and allegations, leaving many to question the methods behind her success.
Early Life and Education
Natasha’s knack for navigating challenges emerged early, earning her the nickname “NKOM” (Natasha Akpoti of Manipulation) among secondary school friends. They recall her skillfully deflecting trouble with teachers through charm, feminine guile, and persuasion. This early reputation foreshadowed a pattern that would follow her into adulthood.
In 2000, Natasha enrolled at the University of Abuja to study law, arriving with a flair that turned heads. Her classmate’s recollection paints a vivid picture: “From day one, Nkom’s goals were clear. She relied on her sex appeal via see-through outfits, expensive perfumes, and a wardrobe that outshone everyone on campus.” Her academic performance reportedly lagged initially, but by her third year (300L), her grades improved significantly despite rare class appearances, sparking whispers of favoritism from lecturers. She graduated in 2004 and attended the Nigerian Law School in 2005, where rumours of using influence to pass the bar exams swirled, though no evidence substantiated these claims.
Years later, seeking to bolster her credentials, Natasha pursued an MBA in Oil & Gas Management abroad in 2011, completing it in 2012. This move not only added a degree but also connected her with powerful “mentors and associates”, a network that would prove instrumental in her career.
Career: Climbing the Ladder Amid Controversy
Natasha’s professional life began in 2007 as legal counsel at a top LNG company, a position she held until 2010. Described as a “gift” from influential allies, her tenure was shadowed by allegations of secret deals and favours exchanged with executives to climb the ranks. These whispers of impropriety set the stage for her next venture.
In 2015, she launched BHIIP, an investment scheme promising high returns and exclusive perks, reportedly targeting wealthy men and politicians. Critics, including Reno Omokri, labeled it a fraudulent front, though Natasha fiercely denied such claims, touting her transparency. The venture’s reliance on persuasion and promises mirrors the tactics seen in her 2014 accusation against Omokri. In that incident, she claimed he harassed her at an Aso Rock event, only for Omokri to produce evidence shared publicly on his social media that he was abroad during the alleged time. Natasha’s subsequent deletion of the accusation fueled speculation that it was a strategic move gone awry, a controversy that would haunt her reputation.
Her career peaked in 2018 when, on March 1, she testified before the National Assembly about corruption at the Ajaokuta steel mill. Armed with documents, she accused politicians and businessmen of embezzlement, though some pointed to her own controversial dealings as undermining her credibility. The ministry dismissed her claims, and rivals called her a corporate pawn, but Natasha turned the spotlight into a legal offensive, suing a tabloid that exposed her involvement. This ability to pivot from accusation to advantage echoes the Omokri episode, reinforcing a pattern of using controversy as a tool.
But by far, her most spectacular controversial stunt was the threat of legal action against her then boyfriend, now husband, to marry her or he’ll be criminally prosecuted for procuring abortions for her. As usual, the letter from her lawyers got “leaked” to the media and the man agreed to marry her,prompting protests from his clan’s men and women, and the man’s senior wife.
Political Career: Power Through Allegations
Natasha’s political ambitions took flight in 2018 with a Senate run in Kogi Central, leveraging a gender-centric campaign and “strategic alliances” within the PDP by May 2022. Her media team clashed with supporters of Peter Obi and the Obedient movement, showcasing her combative style. The 2023 elections brought further drama as she accused then Governor Yahaya Bello, a former ally turned rival, of blocking roads to suppress her voters. Losing narrowly with 51,763 votes to her opponent’s 52,132, she challenged the results.
On September 6, 2023, an election tribunal overturned the outcome in her favor, a decision the Court of Appeal upheld on October 31, 2023, securing her Senate seat.
The Omokri incident looms large over her political narrative however. That 2014 accusation, disproven and retracted, parallels her earlier and later moves like her road-blockage claims against Bello and the present brouhaha against the leadership of the Senate suggesting a reliance on bold allegations to shift narratives or gain sympathy. Critics argue this tactic reflects her “NKOM” persona: a willingness to rewrite rules or, as one observer put it, “burn everything down to win.” Her charm, style, and strategic flair, her “nuclear weapons”, have undeniably propelled her, but the false Omokri claim, blackmail for marriage, and other unproven allegations from her remains a glaring Achilles’ heel, casting doubt on her credibility. How much of her success stems from merit versus maneuver? Causing chaos or actually being a true victim?
