Toba Owojaiye reporting
Abuja, Nigeria
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that the petition seeking the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, does not fulfill the constitutional requirements necessary to initiate such a process. Citing Section 69(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), INEC emphasized that the petition lacks the mandatory elements stipulated by law.
Truth Live News gathered from a statement released on March 25, 2025, INEC highlighted specific deficiencies in the petition. Notably, the representatives of the petitioners failed to provide comprehensive contact information, including verifiable addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses, as mandated by Clause 1(f) of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024. The only address provided was a general location: “Okene, Kogi State,” which INEC deemed insufficient for official correspondence. Additionally, only the lead petitioner’s phone number was included, rather than contact details for all representatives.
Despite these procedural lapses, INEC indicated that it is exploring alternative means to notify the petitioners of these shortcomings. The Commission reiterated that the recall of a legislator is a prerogative of registered voters in the respective constituency. Should the petitioners rectify the identified deficiencies and meet all submission requirements, INEC will proceed with the verification of signatures in an open process. This verification will involve the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and will allow both the petitioners and the senator facing recall to nominate agents to observe the process.
The recall attempt has elicited reactions from various quarters. The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has expressed concern over what it perceives as a politically motivated effort to silence Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan. CHRICED urged INEC to maintain impartiality and resist being used as an instrument of political persecution. The organization emphasized the need for transparency and adherence to due process to uphold public trust in Nigeria’s electoral system.
In response to the recall petition, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused INEC of bias, alleging that the Commission’s handling of the petition indicates partiality in favor of the petitioners. Through her legal counsel, she contended that INEC should have dismissed the petition outright due to its procedural defects, rather than offering the petitioners an opportunity to amend their submission. She further questioned the authenticity of the signatures attached to the petition, noting that the only address provided was in Okene, which may not represent the entire senatorial district.
Complicating matters, the Federal High Court in Lokoja granted an interim injunction on March 21, 2025, restraining INEC from receiving or acting on any petition aimed at initiating a recall process against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan. The court’s decision was based on concerns that the petition contained fictitious signatures and names. The case is scheduled for further mention on May 6, 2025.