Knockout blow: INEC finally throws out recall petitions against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

By Kingston Magare 3/4/2025
Natasha Akpoti-Udughan has won what seems to be a boxing match between her and “constituents” who clamoured for her recall from the Senate.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after its regular weekly meeting Thursday ruled that the petition did not meet the constitutional requirement to proceed for the recall of the Senator representing Kogi Central, quoting Section 69(a) of the 1999 Constitution.
Before the latest development the INEC had returned the petition to the signees who had failed to provide their home address, email and phone numbers. According to a statement by the INEC the petition failed to meet the numbers required by the law and so it was over and out for the recall.
While addressing her supporters on Tuesday, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that it was the Senator president Godswill Akpabio who connived with former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello to cook up the recall. She also alleged that Akpabio has ordered that she should be killed.
INEC Statement
OUTCOME OF THE REVIEW OF SIGNATURES/THUMBPRINTS OF THE PETITIONERS FOR THE RECALL OF THE SENATOR REPRESENTING KOGI CENTRAL SENATORIAL DISTRICT
The Commission held its regular weekly meeting today, Thursday 3rd April 2025. Among other issues, the meeting considered and approved the report of its physical count of the signatures/thumbprints forwarded with the petition for the recall of the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, in line with Clause 2(b) of the Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024.
The Commission had assured Nigerians that it would handle the matter with fairness to the parties involved and in line with the provisions of the law and our Regulations and Guidelines. First, we ensured that the petitioners complied with the requirements for the submission of the petition. Secondly, we notified the member sought to be recalled in writing, copied the presiding officer of the Senate and simultaneously published the notice on our website. Thirdly, we informed Nigerians that the next step would be to carefully ascertain the number of signatures/thumbprints to ensure that the petition complies with the requirement of the law. This exercise has now been completed.
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.
Sam Olumekun mni
National Commissioner and Chairman, Information & Voter Education Committee