The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that the petition to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from Kogi Central Senatorial District does not meet the necessary submission requirements. In a statement released on Tuesday, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, explained that the petition was found deficient in essential contact information.
The petition, which was accompanied by six bags of documents containing signatures from over half of the 474,554 registered voters across 902 polling units in 57 registration areas spanning five local government areas (Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi, and Okene), was missing critical details. Olumekun noted that the representatives of the petitioners failed to provide definitive contact addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses as required by Clause 1(f) of INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall. The only address provided was a vague “Okene, Kogi State,” and only the lead petitioner’s telephone number was included.
INEC reiterated that the recall of a legislator is a right reserved for registered voters who lose confidence in their representative. Once a petition fully complies with the stipulated requirements, INEC will begin an open verification process of the signatures using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). The process allows both the petitioners and the targeted legislator to nominate agents, with observers and media accredited to monitor the exercise.
The Commission stated that if the petitioners supply the missing contact information in accordance with the regulations, the next steps in the recall process will be announced in line with the existing legal framework, including the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and the detailed Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024.
This petition follows a turbulent period in the Senate where Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was recently suspended for violating Senate rules, amid allegations she leveled against Senate President Godswill Akpabio over sexual assault. INEC’s decision underscores the importance of adhering to procedural requirements to ensure that any recall action is both transparent and legally sound.
Olumekun urged the public to disregard any speculation on social media, emphasizing that INEC is committed to following the established legal processes for any recall petition.
The Commission is currently making additional efforts to notify the petitioners about the deficiencies in their submission and to facilitate compliance with the required guidelines. Further updates will be provided once the petition meets the necessary criteria for signature verification.
