The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declined a petition seeking the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, citing failure to meet procedural requirements.
INEC’s National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Sam Olumekun, stated on Tuesday that the petition, submitted by voters from Kogi Central Senatorial District, lacked essential contact details necessary for processing.
According to INEC, the petition included six bags of documents containing signatures from more than half of the 474,554 registered voters across 902 polling units in five local government areas. However, the submission failed to provide a specific contact address, telephone numbers, and email addresses for all representatives, as required by the commission’s guidelines.
Olumekun clarified that the recall process is strictly guided by constitutional provisions, the Electoral Act, and INEC’s regulations. He stressed that verification of signatures would only commence once the petition meets all submission requirements.
The recall attempt follows Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recent suspension from the Senate after she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual assault.
INEC has urged petitioners to correct the deficiencies and assured the public that due process will be followed.
