Breaking: INEC rejects Senator Natasha’s recall

By Kunle Sanni

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed the petition seeking to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, stating that it failed to meet constitutional requirements.

In a post on its official X page on Thursday, INEC cited Section 69(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which outlines the conditions for recalling a lawmaker, noting that the petition did not meet the necessary threshold.

“The petition for the recall of the Senator representing the Kogi Central Senatorial District has not met the requirement of Section 69(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). Detailed statement shortly,” INEC wrote.

Last month, constituents from Kogi Central submitted a recall petition with signatures from over half of the district’s 474,554 registered voters, gathered across 902 polling units in five local government areas: Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi, and Okene.

The electoral commission requires that a recall petition be signed by more than half of registered voters to proceed. If this threshold is met, a referendum must be conducted within 90 days. Otherwise, INEC will reject the petition and issue a public notice.

In its earlier response, INEC stated that the petition did not include the petitioners’ addresses.

The move to recall Akpoti-Uduaghan follows her suspension from the Senate on March 6 over allegations of “gross misconduct” linked to a dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Former Adamawa North Senator Ishaku Elisha Abbo has also accused the Senate President of acting like an “emperor” in handling the alleged sexual harassment accusation raised by Akpoti-Uduaghan.