INEC: Why we rejected Natasha’s recall petition

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained why it rejected the petition seeking to recall the senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, from the Senate.

The Star recalls that group of registered voters from Akpoti-Uduaghan’s senatorial district had, on March 24, 2025, submitted a petition to INEC, urging it to commence her recall process from the Senate.

The constituents, in the letter signed by the Lead Petitioner, Salihu Habib, and submitted at INEC headquarters, said they no longer had confidence in Akpoti-Uduaghan as their senator and representative in the National Assembly.

INEC, on March 26, confirmed receiving the contact details of petitioners in the petition for Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recall.

The electoral umpire had earlier said the petitioners failed to provide the necessary contact information, such as their addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses, as required under the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024.

The commission later said the petitioners provided their contact information.

However, INEC, in a statement issued by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, on Thursday, April 3, noted that the petition failed to meet constitutional requirements.

INEC: Natasha’s recall petition failed to meet constitutional requirement

Olumekun disclosed that INEC held its regular weekly meeting today (Thursday), noting that the meeting considered and approved the report of its physical count of the signatures/thumbprints forwarded with the petition for the senator’s recall, in line with Clause 2(b) of the Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024.

The INEC official cited Section 69(a) of the Constitution, which stipulates that a petition to recall a senator needs the signatures of more than one-half of the registered voters in the lawmaker’s constituency.

Olumekun stated: “For emphasis, a petition for the recall of a Senator must comply with the provision of Section 69(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) which requires the signatures of more than one-half of the registered voters in the constituency.

“The total number of registered voters in the Kogi Central Senatorial District is 474,554. More than one-half of this figure (i.e. 50%+1) is 237,277+1 which is at least 237,278 voters.

“Across the 902 Polling Units in 57 Registration Areas and five Local Government Areas that make up the Senatorial District, the Commission ascertained 208,132 signatures/thumbprints from the submission made by the petitioners. This translates to 43.86% of the registered voters which falls short of the constitutional requirement by 29,146 signatories.

“Consequently, the petition has not met the requirement of Section 69(a) of the Constitution. Therefore, no further action shall be taken on the recall of the Senator.

“In line with the provision of Clause 2(d) of the Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, the Commission has issued a Public Notice to that effect which is also copied to the presiding officer of the Senate.

“The Public Notice, along with a summary of the review of the signatures/thumbprints of the petitioners, which are disaggregated by Local Government Areas, are available on our website and social media platforms for public information.”

The Star