The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed the recall petition against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, citing procedural deficiencies.
In a statement signed by Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner & Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC stated that while the recall process is constitutionally guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022, the petition submitted did not meet the necessary requirements.
According to the Commission, the petitioners from Kogi Central had presented six bags of documents, purportedly containing signatures from over half of the 474,554 registered voters across 902 polling units in five local government areas Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi, and Okene.
However, INEC observed that the petitioners failed to provide a verifiable contact address, as required by Clause 1(f) of its Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024. The only address given was “Okene, Kogi State,” without specific details. Additionally, the covering letter contained only the telephone number of the lead petitioner, rather than contact details for all representatives.
Reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to due process, INEC stated that if the petitioners address the procedural lapses, the next steps would be announced accordingly.
“The Commission wishes to reiterate that the recall of a legislator is the prerogative of registered voters in a constituency who sign a petition indicating loss of confidence in the legislator representing them. Once the petition meets the requirements of submission, as contained in our regulations, the Commission shall commence the verification of the signatures in each polling unit in an open process restricted to registered voters that signed the petition only,” the statement read.
It further added, “In the absence of a definite contact address, the Commission is making efforts to use other means to notify the representatives of the petitioners of the situation.”
The electoral body urged the public to disregard any speculations or misinformation circulating on social media regarding the recall petition.
