The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has acknowledged receipt of a petition seeking the recall of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, but has raised concerns over incomplete contact details provided by the petitioners.
In a press release issued after its weekly meeting on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, INEC confirmed that the petition was submitted along with six bags of documents, reportedly containing signatures from more than half of the 474,554 registered voters in the senatorial district. The constituency spans 902 polling units in 57 registration areas (wards) across Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi, and Okene local government areas.
However, INEC noted a major procedural flaw in the submission.
“The Commission’s immediate observation is that the representatives of the petitioners did not provide their contact address, telephone number(s), and e-mail address(es) in the covering letter forwarding the petition through which they can be contacted as provided in Clause 1(f) of our Regulations and Guidelines,” the statement read.
Read also: How recall works and what will happen to Natasha’s seat if she’s recalled
INEC emphasised that the recall process is strictly guided by the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, all of which are available on its website. It assured that “all petitions will be treated in strict compliance with the legal framework.”
The commission outlined the next steps, stating that once the petition meets all submission requirements, it will proceed to verify the signatures in an open process at polling units.
“The petitioners and the member whose recall is sought shall be at liberty to nominate agents to observe the verification, while interested observers and the media will also be accredited,” INEC stated. The verification will be conducted using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to ensure authenticity.
For now, INEC has initiated efforts to reach the petitioners through alternative means, given the lack of a specific contact address.
“In the absence of a definite contact address, the Commission is making efforts to use other means to notify the representatives of the petitioners of the situation,” the statement added.
INEC reassured the public of its commitment to a transparent and lawful process while urging people to ignore speculations and misinformation circulating on social media regarding the petition.
The recall process, if validated, will follow constitutional procedures, potentially leading to a referendum where voters will decide whether the senator retains her seat or is removed from office.
