More than 250,000 registered voters from Kogi Central Senatorial District have formally submitted a recall petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), seeking the removal of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The district has a total of 580,000 registered voters, making this petition a significant move by the electorate.
INEC’s Secretary, Mrs. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, received the petition on Monday at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. The petitioners accuse Akpoti-Uduaghan of “gross misconduct, abuse of office, evasion of due process, and deceitful behavior,” claiming that her actions have embarrassed the district. They stated that the petition follows Section 69 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall Petitions.
This submission comes after a court lifted a previous order that had prevented INEC from receiving the petition. The order had temporarily delayed the process but was overturned, allowing the petitioners to move forward.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended from the Senate on March 6 following a disagreement with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, later accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, adding to the political tension surrounding the case.
The petition, signed by lead petitioner Salihu Habib, is a five-page document listing various allegations against the Senator, including recklessness, dishonesty, and misplaced priorities. Habib urged INEC to act swiftly and fairly, emphasizing the importance of democratic accountability and governance integrity.
The recall process follows three key steps outlined by INEC. First, signatures from more than half of the district’s registered voters must be collected. Next, INEC verifies the submitted signatures. Finally, a referendum is conducted, where voters will decide through a ‘yes or no’ vote.
If the majority votes in favor of the recall, INEC will issue a Certificate of Recall to the Senate President, officially removing Akpoti-Uduaghan from office.
