The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that the petition seeking to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central has failed to meet the necessary constitutional requirements. In a statement released on Thursday, INEC indicated that the petition did not fulfill the stipulations set forth in Section 69(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999, as amended).
According to the electoral body, a recall petition must garner the signatures of more than half of the registered voters in the lawmaker’s constituency. INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, noted that the number of signatures collected fell significantly short of the total number of registered voters in Kogi Central Senatorial District, which stands at 474,554.
In a related statement, Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, emphasized that the electoral commission was not acting in a partisan manner regarding the recall efforts directed at Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In response to the ruling, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed her gratitude to Nigerians for their continued support during this challenging period. She alleged that the recall attempt was orchestrated by powerful political figures, including the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, as well as Kogi State Governor Ododo and former Governor Yahaya Bello.
Additionally, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan revealed that the use of a helicopter during the recall petition campaign was suggested by her husband, highlighting the personal and political dimensions of the struggle she faced.
The situation surrounding the recall attempt underscores the intense political dynamics in Kogi State and the ongoing challenges faced by elected officials in Nigeria.
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