A Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, has overturned an earlier ruling that prevented the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting a recall petition against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by her constituents in Kogi Central Senatorial District.
Delivering the judgment yesterday, the court upheld that the recall process remains a constitutional right of the constituents and must be allowed to proceed.
The judge also urged the petitioners to continue exercising their rights peacefully and lawfully.
This ruling came a day after the court had issued an interim injunction restraining INEC and its representatives from receiving or acting on any petition containing signatures from Kogi Central voters.
The injunction also prohibited INEC from organising a referendum to initiate the recall process until a further decision was made.
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The court had earlier granted the order based on an ex-parte application, supported by an Affidavit of Extreme Urgency, filed by Anebe Jacob Ogirima and four other registered voters from the district.
Their lawyer, Smart Nwachimere, argued that the recall petition contained fictitious signatures, raising concerns about its legitimacy.
The court, however, ruled that INEC must not accept or act on petitions containing fake signatures, nor conduct any referendum based on such petitions.
The case has been adjourned to May 6, 2025, for further proceedings.
