In a significant legal development, the Federal High Court in Lokoja has granted an interim injunction restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or acting on any petition aimed at initiating a recall process against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
This decision comes just days after a Motion on Notice was filed and will remain in effect until the motion is fully determined.
The ruling, delivered on Thursday, specifically prevents INEC, its staff, agents, and associates from receiving any petitions that include fictitious signatures from individuals purported to be members of Kogi Central Senatorial District. Furthermore, the court has halted any potential referendum based on such petitions.
The ruling states, “It is hereby ordered as follows: That an interim injunction is granted restraining the Defendant, their staff, agents, privies, or assigns from receiving, accepting or acting in any way whatsoever on any purported petitions submitted to the Defendant by any person or persons whatsoever, containing fictitious signatures and names of purported members of Kogi State Central Senatorial District of Kogi State and conducting any referendum whatsoever upon such Petition for the purpose of initiating a recall process of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as Senator representing the said Senatorial District in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.”
The case, supported by an Ex-parte application and an Affidavit of Extreme Urgency signed by registered voters and constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District, will now be revisited on May 6, 2025.
This ruling has brought a temporary halt to any efforts to recall Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, at least until the full legal process is completed.
