The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has acknowledged receipt of a petition aiming to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the representative for Kogi Central Senatorial District. However, INEC identified several deficiencies in the submission that prevent the process from advancing.
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Submission Details and Identified Deficiencies
The petition, accompanied by six bags of documents, reportedly contains signatures from over half of the 474,554 registered voters across 902 polling units in the five Local Government Areas of Kogi Central: Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi, and Okene.
Despite the substantial number of signatures, INEC noted critical omissions in the petition:
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Lack of Specific Contact Information: The petitioners failed to provide a precise contact address, listing only "Okene, Kogi State," which INEC deemed insufficient for correspondence.
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Incomplete Contact Details: Only one telephone number was provided for the lead petitioner, without additional contact information for other representatives, as required by Clause 1(f) of INEC's Regulations and Guidelines.
INEC's Position and Next Steps
INEC emphasized that the recall process is a constitutional right of registered voters who have lost confidence in their elected legislator. The Commission stated that upon full compliance with submission requirements, it would initiate the verification of signatures in an open process, restricted to the registered voters who signed the petition.
Context of the Recall Petition
The recall petition follows the Senate's suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months, subsequent to her allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Conclusion
INEC has urged the petitioners to rectify the identified deficiencies to proceed with the recall process. The Commission reassured the public of its commitment to adhering strictly to legal frameworks and maintaining transparency throughout the procedure.
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