The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that the petition submitted for the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from Kogi Central Senatorial District does not meet the constitutional requirements necessary to initiate the recall process.
Despite claims from the petitioners, operating under the aegis of Concerned Kogi Youth and Women, that over 250,000 registered voters supported the recall exceeding the required half of the district's 580,000 registered voters-INEC's verification process concluded that the petition lacked the necessary valid signatures.
The petition cited "gross misconduct, abuse of office, evasion of due process, and a pattern of deceitful behavior" as reasons for the recall. This development follows Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan's recent six-month suspension from the Senate on March 6, due to alleged misconduct during a plenary session.
The recall process, as outlined in Section 69 of the 1999 Constitution, requires a petition signed by more than half of the registered voters in the constituency, followed by a referendum conducted by INEC. Given the insufficiency of valid signatures, the process cannot advance at this time.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has refuted claims of apologizing to the Senate following her suspension, asserting that she remains steadfast in her position and has not issued any apology.
This outcome underscores the challenges inherent in the recall process and highlights the importance of adherence to constitutional provisions in such endeavors.