INEC Rejects Recall Petition Against Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Over Deficiencies

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has identified significant deficiencies in the petition seeking the recall of suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District.

This development introduces a new twist to the ongoing political saga surrounding the senator.

On March 24, 2025, constituents from Kogi Central submitted a petition to INEC, aiming to recall the embattled senator.

The petition, accompanied by six bags of documents, purportedly contained signatures from over half of the district’s 474,554 registered voters.

The constituents cited “gross misconduct, abuse of office, evasion of due process, and a pattern of deceitful behaviour” as reasons for their loss of confidence in the senator’s representation.

However, INEC’s review revealed that the petition lacked essential contact information for the petitioners’ representatives.

Specifically, it did not provide clear contact addresses, phone numbers, or email addresses, as mandated by Clause 1(f) of INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall.

The submission included only the lead petitioner’s phone number and a vague address listed as “Okene, Kogi State.”

INEC emphasized that without complete and accurate contact details, the petition does not meet the necessary criteria for further action.

In response to these findings, INEC is attempting to reach the petitioners through alternative means. This is in a bid to inform them of the deficiencies in their submission.

The commission has urged the petitioners to fulfill all submission requirements before any further steps can be taken. INEC used that to reaffirm its commitment to due process in handling recall petitions.

This recall attempt follows Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension from the Senate on March 6, 2025, due to “gross misconduct” after a dispute over seating arrangements with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The senator subsequently accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, further intensifying the controversy.

Amid these developments, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has denied reports that she apologized to the Senate over the incident leading to her suspension.

In a statement, she asserted, “The purported reports circulating that I have apologized to the Senate and retracted my position are completely untrue. I stand firmly by my words and actions, and I have not issued any apology to the Senate or anyone regarding this matter.”

The situation is further complicated by a Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, which recently restrained INEC from receiving or acting on any recall petition against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan. This court order adds another layer of legal loopholes to the unfolding events.

As the political and legal proceedings continue, the constituents of Kogi Central and the broader Nigerian public remain attentive to the outcomes of this interesting situation.

Skiword is ever ready to keep you updated, as the saga progresses.