Natasha on the Brink As INEC Clears Path for Recall, Notifies Senate

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has attested to having obtained the required contact information from petitioners attempting to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently suspended and represents the Kogi Central Senatorial District.

Sam Olumekun, the national commissioner and chairman of the information & voter education committee, said in a statement released on Wednesday via its X handle that the petitioners have now complied with the recall guidelines by providing their email addresses, phone numbers, and contact information.

“As provided in Clause 2(a) of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, a letter has been written to notify the Senator sought to be recalled about the receipt of the petition and delivered to her official address,” Olumekun said in the statement.

“The same letter has been copied to the presiding officer of the Senate and published on the Commission’s website.”

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The next step in the recall procedure, which entails confirming the list of signatures included with the petition, was also described by the electoral commission.

In order to ascertain whether the recall is supported by more than 50% of the senatorial district’s registered voters, INEC says this verification process is essential.

It added, “The next step is to scrutinise the list of signatories submitted by the petitioners to ascertain that the petition is signed by more than one half (over 50%) of the registered voters in the Constituency

“This will be done in the coming days. The outcome, which will be made public, shall determine the next step to be taken by the Commission,” Olumekun stated, reassuring Nigerians that the process will be “open and transparent.”

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Recall that the petitioners, whose names are now officially on file, had first addressed a request to INEC claiming that they were unhappy with the Senator’s representation and performance.

The signatories assert that their displeasure with her actions while in power is what motivated their action.

Their petition to INEC states, “This petition arises from our loss of confidence in the Senator on grounds of gross misconduct, abuse of office, evasion of due process, and a litany of actions that have not only embarrassed the people of Kogi Central constituency but also tainted the integrity of the Nigerian Senate and our democratic institutions.”

Additionally, the petitioners claim that over half of Kogi Central’s registered voters have signed the paper, and they call for INEC to step in right away.

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“By this petition, which we have made sure is signed by more than one-half of the registered voters in Kogi Central, we hereby request that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) immediately commence the constitutionally approved process of recall to remove Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from office and declare her seat vacant.”

However, the absence of complete contact information needed for official notice caused the procedure to halt.

The announcement on Tuesday is significant since INEC had previously stated that the recall process could not begin unless the petitioners submitted their contact information in accordance with the law.