INEC Rejects Petition to Recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced on Thursday that the petition seeking to recall Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Senator for Kogi Central, does not comply with legal requirements.

In a clear statement posted on its official X account, INEC declared, “The petition for the recall of the Senator representing the Kogi Central Senatorial District falls short of the conditions outlined in Section 69(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). Consequently, the recall effort has been deemed inadequate and cannot proceed under current constitutional provisions.”

This decision comes amid ongoing political tensions in Kogi Central, where Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was said to be recalled. Section 69(a) of the Nigerian Constitution stipulates that a recall petition must be supported by more than half of the registered voters in the affected constituency, verified through a rigorous process overseen by INEC.

The rejection of the petition suggests that the required threshold of voter signatures or other procedural criteria was not met. Akpoti-Uduaghan, known for her advocacy on local governance and development issues, has faced opposition from some quarters, though the specifics of the recall attempt remain unclear from INEC’s statement. The commission’s ruling underscores its role as a gatekeeper in ensuring constitutional compliance in electoral matters.