Senator Natasha Akpoti has fought battles big and small in Nigerian politics. Her latest tussle with the Senate President Godswill Akpabio is certainly the most high profile. Coming at a time when Ukraine and its plucky President Volodymyr Zelensky are in the news, Nigerians now attribute Natasha Akpoti’s relentless fighting spirit to her Ukrainian blood. The half-Kogi, half-Ukrainian politician has made a name for herself by standing up to the entrenched political establishment in Kogi State and beyond, embodying the grit and defiance that many associate with Ukraine’s own fight for survival and independence on the global stage.
Born to a Nigerian father, Dr. Jimoh Akpoti, and a Ukrainian mother, Ludmila Kravchenk, Natasha Akpoti’s upbringing was shaped by two distinct cultures—one known for its deep-rooted communal ties and the other famed for its resilience in the face of adversity. It is this combination, Nigerians believe, that has turned her into one of the most determined female politicians in the country today.
Early Life and Influences
Natasha Akpoti was born in 1979 in Ihima, a community in Kogi State’s Central Senatorial District. Growing up in Nigeria with the influence of her mother’s Eastern European background, Natasha developed a worldview that blended the Nigerian sense of communal responsibility with the Ukrainian tradition of speaking truth to power.
Her father, a respected medical doctor, passed away when Natasha was still a child, leaving her Ukrainian mother to raise her and her siblings in Kogi. This single-parent upbringing in a society where widows often face economic and cultural disadvantages shaped Natasha’s early understanding of injustice and gender inequality.
This understanding later sharpened into political consciousness, especially after her education. Natasha earned a degree in Electrical/Electronics Engineering from the University of Abuja, followed by a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. This technical and managerial background would eventually inform her approach to governance, emphasizing development and industrialization, particularly in Kogi State.
A Political Fighter Emerges
Natasha Akpoti first stepped into the national spotlight in 2018 when she contested the Kogi Central Senatorial seat under the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). In a state long dominated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Akpoti’s campaign was seen as audacious.
She ran on a platform that exposed deep corruption in Kogi’s political system, particularly relating to the neglect of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex. Her fierce advocacy for the revival of Ajaokuta struck a chord with the people of Kogi Central, where the moribund steel plant represents a lost promise of industrial prosperity.
Her outspokenness did not sit well with the Kogi political elite. Akpoti faced open hostility, intimidation, and even violence during her campaign. Yet, she refused to back down. She became a symbol of defiance, a woman standing up to a system that sought to silence her. In Nigeria’s male-dominated political landscape, her persistence was remarkable.
2019 Governorship Battle: Confronting Power Head-On
In 2019, Natasha Akpoti made an even bolder move: she ran for Governor of Kogi State. Once again, she was the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, a relatively small platform compared to the juggernauts of APC and PDP. Her candidacy was historic—no woman had ever come close to clinching a major party ticket for governorship in the state.
The election itself was marred by violence and voter suppression, with reports of thugs disrupting polling in areas where Akpoti was popular. Despite this, her showing at the polls was impressive enough to rattle the political establishment. Even after she officially lost the election, she refused to walk away quietly, challenging the process in court and shining a light on the brutal, often lawless nature of elections in Kogi State.
Her refusal to surrender—fighting both within the system and through grassroots mobilization—earned her a cult following, particularly among young voters and women who saw her as a rare symbol of courage in Nigerian politics.
Legal Battles and Personal Attacks
Throughout her political career, Natasha Akpoti has been dragged into endless court battles, many of which were politically motivated. Opponents have often tried to disqualify her on technicalities, from allegations of party disloyalty to accusations that her running mate’s credentials were flawed.
She has consistently fought back, not just in courtrooms, but also in the court of public opinion. Her transparency about these legal fights and her use of social media to narrate her struggles has made her one of the most followed female politicians in Nigeria.
Personal attacks have also come her way. From derogatory comments about her being a “foreigner” because of her Ukrainian heritage to deeply sexist narratives painting her as a woman too bold for her own good, Akpoti has endured it all. And yet, she has embraced these criticisms, often turning them into rallying cries for her supporters.
Senate Bid and National Recognition
In 2023, Natasha Akpoti made another bid for the Kogi Central Senate seat, this time under the PDP. Once again, the process was mired in irregularities, but her performance at the polls confirmed her growing popularity. Her campaigns were built on her characteristic directness—she spoke openly about corruption, unemployment, and the marginalization of Kogi’s central communities.
While she did not win, her fight attracted national attention. Commentators compared her resilience to the indomitable spirit of her Ukrainian motherland, drawing parallels between her political battles and Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression. This narrative, though simplified, captured the essence of what Nigerians admire most about Natasha: her refusal to surrender, no matter how strong the opposition.
More Than Politics
Beyond politics, Natasha Akpoti is also an advocate for women’s rights, widow empowerment, and rural development. She has consistently used her platform to draw attention to the plight of widows in Kogi State, often sharing her own mother’s story to highlight the structural disadvantages widows face in Nigeria.
Her foundation, the Natasha Akpoti Foundation, focuses on health, education, and economic empowerment in rural communities. Even outside election cycles, she remains a visible presence in Kogi, regularly visiting communities, commissioning projects, and holding the government accountable.
Natasha Akpoti’s story is far from over. In a political culture that often rewards silence and complicity, her brand of defiance stands out. Whether or not she eventually wins a major political office, she has already succeeded in proving that courage, conviction, and a refusal to be intimidated can shake even the most entrenched political structures.
For many Nigerians, especially the people of Kogi, Natasha Akpoti is more than just a politician—she is a fighter in the truest sense, embodying both the Nigerian and Ukrainian spirit of resistance
