The Independent National Electoral Commission has faulted the recall petition of the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of the electoral umpire, Sam Olumekun, admitted receiving the petition submitted yesterday by some individuals led by Charity Ijese and received by INEC’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.
According to INEC, the petition which includes six bags of documents from than half of the 474,554 registered voters in the district covers 902 polling units across 57 registration areas and represents voters from five local government areas—Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi, and Okene.
In a statement signed by Olumekun, on behalf of INEC, stated that the petitioners could not make available necessary contact information, such as their addresses, phone numbers and email addresses, as required under the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024. The commission noted that only phone number of lead petitioner was made available.
It also slammed the petitioners for providing a wrong address such as listing “Okene, Kogi State”
The INEC statement read in part, “The commission held its regular weekly meeting today, Tuesday, 25th March 2025. Among other issues, the meeting discussed the petition for the recall of the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District.
“The process of recall is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022 as well as the commission’s detailed Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, available on our website. All petitions will be treated in strict compliance with the legal framework.
“The petition from Kogi Central Senatorial District was accompanied by six bags of documents said to be signatures collected from over half of the 474,554 registered voters spread across 902 Polling Units in 57 Registration Areas (Wards) in the five Local Government Areas of Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi and Okene.
“The commission’s immediate observation is that the representatives of the petitioners did not provide their contact address, telephone number(s) and e-mail address(es) in the covering letter forwarding the petition through which they can be contacted as provided in Clause 1(f) of our Regulations and Guidelines.
“The address given is ‘Okene, Kogi State’, which is not a definite location for contacting the petitioners. Only the telephone number of ‘the lead petitioner’ is provided as against the numbers of all the other representatives of the petitioners.”
INEC, however, reiterates that the recall of a legislator is the prerogative of registered voters in a constituency who sign a petition indicating loss of confidence in the legislator representing them.
“Once the petition meets the requirements of submission, as contained in our regulations, the commission shall commence the verification of the signatures in each Polling Unit in an open process restricted to registered voters who signed the petition only.
“The petitioners and the member whose recall is sought shall be at liberty to nominate agents to observe the verification, while interested observers and the media will also be accredited. At each Polling Unit, signatories to the petition shall be verified using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System,” the body said.
