The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has received a formal petition from constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District seeking the recall of the suspended Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents the district in the National Assembly.
The petition, which was submitted on Monday morning, has garnered the signatures of over 250,000 constituents, out of the approximately 480,000 registered voters in Kogi Central, thus fulfilling INEC’s requirement of 50 percent plus one of the registered voters.
Ms. Charity Ijese, representing the petitioners, handed the document to INEC’s Secretary, Mrs. Rose Anthony, at the Commission’s headquarters. The petition was duly stamped and processed.
Titled “Constituents’ Petition for the Recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Grounds of Loss of Confidence”, the petition expresses the constituents’ dissatisfaction with the Senator’s representation. It states:
“We, the undersigned, being duly registered voters of the Kogi Central Senatorial District, hereby invoke our rights under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to formally demand the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Nigerian Senate.”
Read Also : Restore Governor Fubara: Rep Calls on Tinubu to Engage Abdulsalami Committee
The petition references Section 69 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, alongside INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall Petitions. The constituents emphasize that Akpoti-Uduaghan was elected following a court decision in October 2024, but that the recall is due to a loss of confidence in her ability to represent the district effectively.
The constituents outlined the grounds for the recall, including gross misconduct, abuse of office, evasion of due process, and a pattern of deceitful behavior. They claimed that the Senator’s actions have not only embarrassed the people of Kogi Central, but have also damaged the integrity of the Nigerian Senate and undermined Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
“We are determined to ensure that the recall process is initiated,” Ijese declared during a media briefing after submitting the petition. “We stand united in our demand for the removal of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from office,” she added.The constituents’ petition marks a significant development in Nigerian politics, as the recall process, now in the hands of INEC, could alter the political landscape in Kogi Central. As the process moves forward, INEC will review the petition to determine the next steps regarding the possible recall of Senator Akpoti.
