INEC Receives Petition To Recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan From Nigerian Senate

INEC Receives Petition for the Recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially received a petition demanding the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Nigerian Senate. The petition, submitted by constituents of Kogi Central, was delivered to INEC’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday, with the commission’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, receiving the document.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, is currently under suspension for allegedly violating Senate regulations.

Massive Turnout for Petition Signatures

According to the petitioners, over 250,000 registered voters out of approximately 480,000 in the senatorial district signed the petition, surpassing the constitutional requirement for a recall process.

The document, titled “Constituents’ Petition for the Recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Grounds of Loss of Confidence,” invokes Section 69 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall Petitions.

Reasons for the Recall Petition

The petition outlines various reasons why the constituents are demanding the senator’s removal. These include:

Alleged Gross Misconduct – Accusations of actions that undermine the integrity of her office.
Abuse of Office – Claims that she has misused her position for personal or political gains.
Disregard for Due Process – Allegations of bypassing legal and procedural protocols.
Loss of Public Trust – Petitioners argue that her actions have embarrassed the people of Kogi Central and damaged the reputation of the Nigerian Senate.

In the petition, signatories emphasize that their collective demand is based on the senator’s failure to uphold the responsibilities expected of her position. They urge INEC to initiate the constitutional process of recall, ultimately leading to the declaration of her seat as vacant.

INEC’s Next Steps in the Recall Process

Under Nigerian law, once INEC receives a valid recall petition, the commission is required to verify the signatures of registered voters who signed the document. If the petition meets the legal requirements, a referendum will be conducted to determine whether the senator should be recalled.

For more details on the recall process, visit INEC’s official guidelines.