The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that it has received the necessary contact details of representatives of the petitioners seeking to recall the suspended Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, via its X handle, by Sam Olumekun, the national commissioner and chairman of the information & voter education committee, INEC stated that the petitioners have now provided their contact address, phone numbers, and email addresses in compliance with the recall guidelines.
“As provided in Clause 2(a) of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, a letter has been written to notify the Senator sought to be recalled about the receipt of the petition and delivered to her official address,” Olumekun said in the statement.
“The same letter has been copied to the presiding officer of the Senate and published on the Commission’s website.”
The electoral body also outlined the next phase of the recall process, which involves verifying the list of signatories attached to the petition.
According to INEC, this verification exercise is crucial in determining whether more than 50% of the registered voters in the senatorial district support the recall.
Read also: INEC receives petitioners’ contact details, proceeds with Natasha’s recall process
It added, “The next step is to scrutinise the list of signatories submitted by the petitioners to ascertain that the petition is signed by more than one half (over 50%) of the registered voters in the Constituency
“This will be done in the coming days. The outcome, which will be made public, shall determine the next step to be taken by the Commission,” Olumekun stated, reassuring Nigerians that the process will be “open and transparent.”
It will be recalled that the petitioners, whose identities have now been officially recorded, had initially submitted a request to INEC, alleging dissatisfaction with the Senator’s performance and representation.
The signatories claim their move is driven by dissatisfaction with her conduct in office.
Their petition to INEC states, “This petition arises from our loss of confidence in the Senator on grounds of gross misconduct, abuse of office, evasion of due process, and a litany of actions that have not only embarrassed the people of Kogi Central constituency but also tainted the integrity of the Nigerian Senate and our democratic institutions.”
The petitioners also assert that the document has been signed by more than half of the registered voters in Kogi Central and demand INEC’s immediate intervention.
“By this petition, which we have made sure is signed by more than one-half of the registered voters in Kogi Central, we hereby request that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) immediately commence the constitutionally approved process of recall to remove Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from office and declare her seat vacant.”
However, the process was stalled due to the lack of complete contact details required for formal notification.
Tuesday’s update marks a critical development, as INEC had earlier announced that the recall process could not proceed until the petitioners provided their contact details in line with legal provisions.
