The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially rejected the petition seeking the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District.
INEC cited the petition’s failure to meet the constitutional requirements outlined in Section 69(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
In a post shared on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, INEC stated that the recall petition did not fulfill the necessary constitutional threshold, leading to its rejection.
“The petition for the recall of the Senator representing the Kogi Central Senatorial District has not met the requirement of Section 69(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended),” INEC wrote.
This announcement comes as a major development in the recall process, which had previously gained traction when INEC accepted the petition following the submission of the petitioners’ contact information.
At the time, INEC confirmed that it had moved on to the verification phase, which included determining whether the petition had garnered sufficient support from over 50% of the 474,554 registered voters in the Kogi Central district.
However, today’s update reveals that the petition failed at this crucial stage.
The decision is likely to heighten ongoing political tensions in Kogi State, with some alleging that the recall effort was politically motivated by allies of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
Further controversy surrounds the petition, with claims that some voters were deceived into signing it under false pretenses, including being told it was part of an empowerment initiative.
The recall process is also facing a legal challenge, with a Federal High Court in Lokoja issuing an interim injunction that prevents INEC from taking further action on the petition.
The case is set to be heard on May 6, 2025.
