- INEC is set to make a decision on the recall petition tabled by onstituents of Kogi Central against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
- The independent body expressed that it began verifying signatures for the recall petition
- Also, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s fate was set to be decided within 90 days, depending on the outcome of the verification process
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed the timeframe it will determine the fate of suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District.
According to the independent electoral body, this will be within the next 90 days.
This follows a recall petition submitted against the senator by her constituents in Kogi Central.
INEC is currently in the process of verifying the signatures provided by petitioners, with the next steps hinging on whether the petition meets the legal threshold for recall. To proceed, the petition must be endorsed by more than half of the registered voters in the Kogi Central District.
If the verification confirms the required number of signatures, INEC will conduct a referendum within 90 days of receiving the petition, as stipulated in the Commission's Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024.
What happens next?
According to INEC’s guidelines, if the petition meets the necessary threshold, the Commission will issue a public notice outlining the date, time, and location of the referendum.
Should the petition fail to reach the required number of signatures, INEC will issue a notice to that effect.
A key provision of the recall process is that the referendum must take place within 90 days from the date of petition receipt if the endorsement threshold is met. The Commission is also expected to notify the public with the specific details for the referendum.
The allegations against Akpoti-Uduaghan
The petition against Akpoti-Uduaghan arises from several controversies, most notably her suspension from the Senate on March 6 for alleged “gross misconduct” following a clash with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The petition cites "loss of confidence" as the primary reason for the recall, accusing the suspended Senator of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and deceit.
In total, six bags of documents containing signatures were submitted to INEC, with signatures collected from over half of the 474,554 registered voters in Kogi Central. These signatures were gathered from 902 polling units spread across the five local government areas of Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi, and Okene.
As per INEC’s regulations, Akpoti-Uduaghan has been notified of the petition’s receipt, with a copy of the notification also sent to the presiding officer of the Senate.
Akpabio challenges court’s authority to hear Natasha’s suit
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Senate President Godswill Akpabio contested the Federal High Court's jurisdiction in the case filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The Senate stood firm on its six-month suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan, dismissing external pressure to reinstate her.
