Why INEC rejected signed petition for Sen. Natasha’s recall from Kogi constituents

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised concerns over the petition submitted for the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, stating that it lacks critical contact details and a definite address for the petitioners.

In a press release issued on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, INEC disclosed that while the petition was accompanied by six bags of documents containing purported signatures of over half of the 474,554 registered voters in Kogi Central, the submission failed to meet a crucial requirement: verifiable contact information.

“The petition from Kogi Central Senatorial District was accompanied by six bags of documents said to be signatures collected from over half of the 474,554 registered voters spread across 902 Polling Units in 57 Registration Areas (Wards) in the five Local Government Areas of Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi and Okene,” INEC said.

“The representatives of the petitioners did not provide their contact address, telephone number(s), and e-mail address(es) in the covering letter forwarding the petition through which they can be contacted as provided in Clause 1(f) of our Regulations and Guidelines,” it stated.

“The address given is ‘Okene, Kogi State,’ which is not a definite location for contacting the petitioners. Only the telephone number of ‘the lead petitioner’ is provided as against the numbers of all the other representatives of the petitioners.”

This revelation raises fresh questions about the legitimacy of the recall process, which has been marred by allegations of fraud and political witch-hunt.

Despite the irregularities, INEC stated that if the petitioners comply with the requirements for a valid submission, the Commission will proceed with the next steps as mandated by law.

It said, “The Commission wishes to reiterate that the recall of a legislator is the prerogative of registered voters in a constituency who sign a petition indicating loss of confidence in the legislator representing them.

“Once the petition meets the requirements of submission, as contained in our regulations, the Commission shall commence the verification of the signatures in each Polling Unit in an open process restricted to registered voters that signed the petition only.”

“If the petitioners fully comply with the requirements of Clause 1(f) of the Regulations and Guidelines regarding the submission of their petition, the Commission will announce the next steps in line with extant laws, regulations, and guidelines,” INEC added.

READ ALSO: INEC receives 250,000 signed-petition for Natasha’s recall 

However, in the absence of a clear contact address, the electoral body admitted that it is seeking other means to notify the petitioners of the situation.

On Monday, approximately 250,000 voters from Kogi Central purportedly signed the recall petition against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.

However, evidence has since emerged that the entire process was riddled with irregularities.

Despite an interim injunction from a Federal High Court in Lokoja barring INEC from receiving the petition over allegations of falsified signatures, the electoral body still went ahead to accept it.

A ruling, delivered by Justice Isa H. Dashen in suit number FHC/LKJ/CS/13/2025, restrained INEC from “receiving, accepting, or acting in any way whatsoever on any purported petitions submitted… containing fictitious signatures and names of purported members of Kogi Central Senatorial District.”

The case is scheduled for a hearing on May 6, 2025.

Meanwhile, according to SaharaReporters, multiple reports have accused political allies of Yahaya Bello, the former Kogi Governor, of orchestrating the recall in retaliation against Akpoti-Uduaghan, who has been an outspoken critic of the ruling establishment.

Residents alleged that voters were deceived into signing recall documents under the pretence of participating in an empowerment programme.

“We are not here for the recall process of Natasha. We are here for an empowerment. And we were given instructions to come with our voter cards,” a resident revealed in a video obtained by SaharaReporters.

Another resident, Mrs. Joseph, described the entire process as fraudulent, saying, “I call the recall process a mess. Nobody was aware of it at all. These people deceived them with the promise of empowerment. It was only when we arrived that many of us realised this was not normal.”

She further alleged that the recall effort lacked genuine public support.

“I see it as a fraud, and they are doing something the people do not support. I myself do not support it, and the majority of people in this local government are against it.”

The timing of the recall process has fueled speculations of political persecution.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was recently suspended from the Senate after she publicly accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, a move widely seen as politically motivated.

Her suspension, coupled with the questionable recall petition, has led many to believe that she is being targeted for speaking out against powerful figures in the country.

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