BREAKING: INEC Rejects Petition To Recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Over Constitutional Deficiencies

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed the petition seeking the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, citing failure to meet constitutional requirements.

In an announcement on Thursday via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, INEC stated that the petition did not fulfill the criteria outlined in Section 69(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

This decision marks a significant twist in the recall effort, which had gained momentum after INEC initially accepted the petition last week and moved it to the verification stage. The commission had confirmed receipt of the petitioners’ contact details and begun scrutinizing the submitted signatures.

INEC’s abrupt rejection of the petition raises questions, especially as it had only recently confirmed that the process was advancing to determine if over 50% of Kogi Central’s 474,554 registered voters supported the recall. While the commission has not provided specific details on the petition’s shortfall, this development is likely to spark further controversy.

The recall attempt has been fraught with political tension, with allegations that allies of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello orchestrated the move against Akpoti-Uduaghan, a vocal critic of his administration. Reports also suggest that petition organizers misled some voters into signing under the guise of an empowerment program.

Adding to the legal complications, a Federal High Court in Lokoja had earlier issued an interim injunction preventing INEC from proceeding with the recall process due to allegations of fraudulent signatures. The court case is set for hearing on May 6, 2025.

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