The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the petition for recalling Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan lacks the necessary requirements. This is because it is missing essential contact details. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan represents Kogi Central Senatorial District.
In a statement released on Tuesday by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, the Commission revealed that it had reviewed the petition during its regular weekly meeting. The petition was submitted with six bags of documents purportedly containing signatures from over half of the 474,554 registered voters in the district.
The petitioners claimed to have gathered support across the 902 polling units in 57 registration areas within Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi, and Okene local government areas. However, INEC observed that the covering letter forwarding the petition lacked a specific contact address, telephone numbers, or email addresses for all the petitioners’ representatives, a requirement under Clause 1(f) of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall.
INEC noted that the provided address, listed merely as “Okene, Kogi State,” was inadequate for proper communication. Additionally, only the lead petitioner’s phone number was included instead of those of all representatives, which is mandatory for validation.
Reiterating the importance of due process, INEC emphasized that a legislator’s recall is strictly the prerogative of registered voters in the constituency. The Commission stated that any recall petition must fully comply with legal requirements before it can proceed with verification.
“The process of recall is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, as well as the Commission’s detailed Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, available on our website. All petitions will be treated in strict compliance with the legal framework,” the statement read.
INEC also assured the public that if the petitioners meet the requirements outlined in Clause 1(f) of the regulations, it will announce the next steps in accordance with extant laws and guidelines. In the meantime, the Commission is exploring alternative means of notifying the petitioners about the situation.
“The public should discountenance any speculations and misinformation circulating on social media,” INEC added, reaffirming its commitment to transparency and adherence to due process in electoral matters.
