Nigeria: Natasha recall INEC notifies senate as constituents amend petition
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that it has received an amended petition from the constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District, seeking the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The petitioners had earlier submitted a recall petition, but INEC raised concerns about the lack of necessary contact details.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, revealed that the updated contact information, including phone numbers, email addresses, and other details, had been submitted to the Commission.
The recall petition, titled “Constituents’ Petition for the Recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Grounds of Loss of Confidence,” was presented on behalf of the constituents by Charity Ijese. The petitioners claim that over 200,000 registered voters, more than half of the district’s electorate, signed the petition.
INEC has notified Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan of the receipt of the recall petition, and the next step will involve verifying whether the petition has been endorsed by more than 50% of the registered voters in Kogi Central. The outcome of this verification will determine the next steps in the recall procedure.
The recall petition follows a series of contentious events involving Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended from the Senate on March 6 for alleged “gross misconduct” after a dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The constituents accuse Akpoti-Uduaghan of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and a pattern of deceitful behavior.
Meanwhile, Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi has expressed no regrets over his heated exchange with former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, during a hearing on a petition accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment. Nwebonyi justified his reaction, stating that he was responding to what he saw as disrespect from Ezekwesili.
