- Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed receipt and official notification of the recall petition to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
- INEC assured that the recall process will be transparent and in line with established regulations
- TheRadar compiled public reactions to the recall process below
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that it officially notified Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan regarding the petition seeking her recall as the representative of Kogi Central Senatorial District.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, March 26, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, revealed that the petitioners had now provided the necessary contact information, including their addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses.
INEC moves to verify signatories in Akpoti-Uduaghan's recall
INEC also stated that it would proceed with reviewing the list of signatories submitted by the petitioners to ensure that the petition has been endorsed by more than half of the registered voters in the constituency.
The Commission emphasised that the outcome of this verification would determine the subsequent steps in the recall process.
The statement reads, “Further to the statement issued yesterday, Tuesday 25th March 2025, the Commission hereby confirms that the contact address of representatives of the petitioners, their telephone numbers and e-mail addresses have now been provided in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Commission dated today Wednesday 26th March 2025.
“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. The same letter has been copied to the presiding officer of the Senate and published on the Commission’s website.
”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.
“We once again reassure Nigerians that the process will be open and transparent.”
INEC clarifies incomplete recall petition for Akpoti-Uduaghan
This followed INEC’s earlier announcement on Tuesday, when it clarified that the initial petition had been incomplete, lacking vital details such as a clear contact address. Consequently, the petition did not meet the Commission’s requirements for processing.
The petition, which had been submitted alongside six bags of documents, reportedly contained signatures from more than half of the 474,554 registered voters across the 902 polling units in the district.
At the time, INEC had pointed out that the cover letter accompanying the petition only listed “Okene, Kogi State” as the contact address and included the phone number of only the lead petitioner, rather than those of all representatives, as mandated by Clause 1(f) of its recall regulations.
The latest development regarding the recall process for the representative of Kogi Central Senatorial District, Akpoti-Uduaghan has stirred widespread public reactions.
TheRadar compiled some of the reactions below:
People react to Akpoti-Uduaghan's recall petition
“Dear Nigerians, How about we play this game with them? Let's mobilize and recall other senators too. Sign signatures and submit everything required and recall them too. We have the crowd and we can recall almost all of them! Is it impossible to recall Akpabio himself? Let's do it,” Rarebreed stated.
“Provided how? in less than 24 hours they found all the requirements? INEC is still the same yesterday, today and forever. Tufiakwa,” Vivian Umukoro reacted.
“Ha! INEC!!! They got 250,000 people contact and address within 24 hours?! Power is fleeting ooo… You all will someday pay for this!” Dr Mary stated.
“I don't know whether to cry or laugh. My emotions are confused. Im crying in a funny way. No wonder I'm looked at with disdain when my passport is being checked in a foreign country's airport. That look says these Nigerians again, these liars, these clowns hahahahahahha,” Ifiok Offiong reacted.
“Corruption has destroyed this country. In 24hours you’ve gotten details of 240,000 people? God save Nigeria,” Lord of Warri stated.
“Under 24 hours details have surfaced? Can we see the address details to confirm if they are really existing? Bunch of criminals,” Chinemerem stated.
“INEC just proved to us that it is actually possible to recall our lawmakers? How about putting aside all our differences and begin to recall underperformed lawmakers? That will make them sit up. Over to you Nigerians,” Morola Oyedele stated.
Kogi residents decry fraudulent recall process against Akpoti-Uduaghan
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that politicians loyal to Yahaya Bello allegedly misled Kogi residents with promises of financial aid to extract signatures for a recall process against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
Multiple videos showed residents exposing the deceit, with many expressing anger over the fraudulent empowerment programme.