The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised concerns over the petition seeking the recall of suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central.
The electoral body, while acknowledging receipt of the petition and its accompanying documents, has pointed out a significant procedural flaw: the petitioners failed to provide the required contact details, including phone numbers, email addresses, and physical addresses.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, signed by Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the Commission confirmed that it had received six bags of documents containing signatures reportedly gathered from more than half of the 474,554 registered voters in Kogi Central.
However, the petitioners have not adhered to INEC’s guidelines, which stipulate that all petitions must include clear contact information for the representatives.
The petition, submitted on behalf of constituents by Charity Ijese, was received by INEC’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, on Monday. While the document contains signatures from voters in five local government areas—Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi, and Okene—the petitioners have only provided the phone number of the lead petitioner, with no contact information for the other representatives. Additionally, the petitioners listed a vague address, simply stating “Okene, Kogi State,” which INEC criticized as insufficient for identifying and contacting those behind the recall effort.
The Commission’s statement read in part: “The petition does not meet the requirements outlined in the Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, which mandate that the contact details of all petition representatives be included. The absence of clear and comprehensive contact information is a significant issue that must be addressed before any further action can be taken.”
INEC emphasized that the recall process is governed by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024. According to the Commission, all petitions must meet these legal standards before the verification process can begin.
If the petitioners fulfill the necessary requirements, INEC will initiate an open verification of the signatures across the 902 polling units in the five local government areas. During this process, both the petitioners and Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan will have the opportunity to nominate agents to observe the signature verification, which will be conducted using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). The process will be transparent, with media and independent observers accredited to monitor the proceedings.
Olumekun further stated, “The recall process is not only a constitutional right of the electorate but also a strict legal procedure. We are committed to ensuring that this process is carried out in accordance with the law. However, the petitioners must first meet the specified requirements before we can proceed to the verification stage.”
In light of the incomplete contact information, INEC said it is exploring alternative means of reaching the petition representatives to notify them of the situation. The Commission also urged the public to disregard rumors or misinformation circulating on social media regarding the recall petition and reassured citizens that the process would adhere to the legal framework.
“The Commission will take the necessary steps once the petitioners fully comply with the requirements as set out in Clause 1(f) of our Regulations and Guidelines. Until then, any speculations or misleading information should be disregarded,” the statement concluded.
This recall petition follows the suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan on March 6, 2025, by the Senate over allegations of gross misconduct, a charge she vehemently denies. The petition, titled “Constituents’ Petition for the Recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Grounds of Loss of Confidence,” accuses the senator of abuse of office, deceit, and a series of actions that allegedly undermine the confidence of her constituents.
As the process moves forward, all eyes will be on INEC to see how it handles this contentious petition, with the stakes high for both the suspended senator and her constituents. The recall saga is set to unfold further, but the focus for now remains on the legal intricacies and procedural requirements that must be met before any action can be taken.
