BREAKING: Natasha Recall Fails – INEC

The petition for the recall of the Senator representing the Kogi Central Senatorial District, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has failed.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the petition for the recall did not meet the requirement of Section 69(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

Prime Business Africa had reported that some people, who claimed to be constituents of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Senatorial District, sent a petition to INEC seeking to recall her from the National Assembly. They claimed loss of confidence in her representation of the senatorial district at the National Assembly. They also accused her of abuse of office and deceit.

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The recall stemmed from a controversy that led to suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months.

She had a heated exchange with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, during plenary over sitting arrangement. She also accused the Senate President of sexual harassment, which Akpabio denied.

Thereafter, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions headed by Senator Neda Imasuen, from Edo South, recommended her suspension from the Senate for six months on the ground of gross misconduct.

Accompanying the petition were six bags filled with documents containing signatures purportedly gathered from over half of the 474,554 registered voters in Kogi Central. They claimed that over 250,000 registered voters from the senatorial district signed the petition.

Kogi Central is made up of five local government areas – Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi, and Okene.

Earlier, the Commission had said its preliminary review of the petition document showed there were no contact addresses of the representatives of the constituents. INEC later announced that the details have been provided.

In line with the commission’s regulations, a notification letter was sent to Akpoti-Uduaghan, informing her of the petition’s receipt.

A copy of the letter was also forwarded to the presiding officer of the Senate.

According to INEC’s detailed Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, if the petition reaches the necessary threshold of support, the commission will issue a public notice detailing the time, date, and location of the referendum.

INEC’s regulations says the commission shall “conduct a referendum for the recall of the member where it has verified that more than one half of the persons registered to vote in that member’s constituency have endorsed the petition, which shall take place not later than 90 days from the date of receipt of the petition for recall.”

However, when it finds out that the recall petition does not meet the constitutional requirement, the Commission makes announcement to that effect