The residents of Kogi Central have formally petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who has been suspended. More than 250,000 signatures from district-wide registered voters supported the petition when it was submitted. Out of the roughly 480,000 registered voters in Kogi Central, this number surpasses the constitutional minimum of more than half (50 percent plus one).CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
According to report from The Nation, the petition was formally presented by Ms. Charity Ijese on behalf of the constituents at the INEC office in Lokoja, the state capital, on Monday morning, where it was duly acknowledged and stamped by the commission. The document, titled “Constituents’ Petition for the Recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Grounds of Loss of Confidence,” highlighted the dissatisfaction of the constituents with the senator’s performance and conduct.
In the petition, the constituents stated that they were exercising their rights as outlined in the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, particularly under Section 69 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The petition also complies with INEC’s official regulations and guidelines for recall procedures. Although they acknowledged that Akpoti-Uduaghan became a senator following an appeal court ruling in October 2024, they stressed that their demand for her recall stems from a deep loss of trust and confidence in her ability to represent them effectively.
The constituents listed several reasons for their decision, including allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office, evasion of due process, and persistent deceptive behavior. According to them, these actions have not only caused embarrassment to the people of Kogi Central but have also damaged the credibility of the Nigerian Senate and undermined the principles of Nigeria’s democracy.
They further emphasized that the petition had been carefully signed by well over half of the registered voters in the district, meeting the constitutional criteria for initiating a recall. The petitioners urged INEC to swiftly begin the legal and procedural steps required to remove Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from office and declare her seat vacant.
Speaking to the press after submitting the petition, Ms. Ijese, accompanied by other constituents, reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that the recall process is carried through to completion, reflecting the collective will of the people of Kogi Central.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
