The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially rejected the petition seeking the recall of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District. This decision came after the Commission stated that the petition did not meet the constitutional requirements for recalling a senator.
In a statement released on Thursday, INEC clarified that the petition failed to comply with the provisions outlined in Section 69(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which governs the recall process for Nigerian senators.
The petition had been formally submitted by constituents of Kogi Central, with claims of “loss of confidence” in Akpoti-Uduaghan’s representation. According to reports, over 250,000 constituents signed the petition, representing a significant portion of the 480,000 registered voters in the district.
The petition, titled “Constituents’ Petition for the Recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Grounds of Loss of Confidence,” was received by INEC’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja earlier this week.
The move to recall the senator comes amidst her suspension from the Senate for allegedly violating Senate rules. Despite this, the Commission has made it clear that the petition does not meet the necessary legal thresholds to trigger the recall process.
