A wave of reactions has continued to trail comments by feminist commentator Roberta Edu, who publicly criticized Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over a recent statement acknowledging her husband’s support in her decision to seek re-election.
Edu, in a strongly worded post, questioned the senator’s independence and personal conviction, suggesting that her political ambition appeared to be driven by her spouse rather than her own vision.
“This is where Natasha and I draw the line,” Edu wrote. “You are a woman Senator, representing a people, and in your quest to return to the Senate, you are telling me that if your husband hadn’t told you to run again, you would not have. That means you do not have the vision—your husband does.”
She further added, “I cannot support people who lack their own conviction… What kind of pick-me card are you trying to play, squashing your vision and telling us you are only running because your spouse commanded it?”
Edu also raised concerns about external influence, stating: “What if Akpabio tells your husband to ask you not to run again?”
However, her remarks quickly drew criticism from several women who defended the senator, arguing that her statement had been misinterpreted and taken out of context.
Among those who pushed back was Eketi Edime Ette, who emphasized the importance of spousal support in politics and marriage.
“If you know Natasha, then you know this is not a pick-me card,” Ette wrote. “This woman has been through hell, and that man has been right behind and beside her every step of the way. The fires she walked through were enough to cost her her marriage and family, had she married a less supportive man.”
She continued, “She does need his consent and support because they’re a team. Every political step she takes impacts her marriage, spouse, and children… Vision without the right support is pointless, especially for a country like ours.”
Another respondent, Sharon, dismissed Edu’s criticism as unrealistic, noting the challenges faced by women in Nigerian politics.
“You will not go through what the senator has gone through alone, madam,” she wrote. “It’s very delusional to think that Natasha is a pick-me… Please take several seats.”
Adding to the growing chorus of responses, Esiri Ochuko Uduaghan delivered a detailed rebuttal, arguing that critics had failed to properly interpret the senator’s statement.
“I find it wildly hilarious to log into Facebook and see people calling Natasha a pick-me because of this post,” she wrote. “At this point, it’s clear: to read is human, but to comprehend is divine.”
Clarifying the senator’s remarks, she stressed: “Natasha said, ‘If you had said no, I would not have taken this step into the Kogi 2027 Senatorial Elections.’ Does that sound like she attributed all her achievements to her husband? Or is she clearly referring to a specific decision?”
Ochuko Uduaghan further highlighted the intensity of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s political journey, describing it as “war, strife, and deeply personal,” marked by “attacks, threats, lawsuits, cyber onslaught, defamation, and harassment.”
“This is a woman who stood toe-to-toe with powerful political juggernauts and did not back down,” she added. “And yet, her husband stood by her—despite the pressure, risks, and emotional toll.”
She argued that seeking a spouse’s support before re-entering such a demanding political environment reflects “wisdom, respect, and awareness,” rather than weakness.
“This is partnership,” she said. “A woman who understands the weight of her decisions on her family and refuses to take that support for granted.”
Ochuko Uduaghan concluded by rejecting the “pick-me” label, insisting that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s resilience and record in office contradict such characterisation.
The controversy stems from a social media post by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, in which she expressed gratitude to her husband for purchasing her nomination forms and standing by her decision to contest the 2027 Kogi Central Senatorial election.
While critics interpret her remarks as diminishing female political independence, supporters argue they reflect the realities of partnership, resilience, and the critical role of family backing in Nigeria’s demanding political landscape.
The debate has since evolved into a broader conversation on feminism, marriage, and the expectations placed on women in leadership.
