By Ayomide Otitoju
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected the petition seeking the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, citing failure to meet constitutional requirements.
In a statement on Thursday, INEC clarified that the petition did not satisfy the provisions of Section 69(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“The petition for the recall of the Senator representing the Kogi Central Senatorial District has not met the requirement of Section 69(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended),” INEC announced via its official X handle.
According to the electoral body, the total number of registered voters in Kogi Central stands at 474,554, with the required threshold for recall being more than half of this figure—at least 237,278 voters. However, INEC’s verification process confirmed only 208,132 valid signatures across the 902 polling units in 57 registration areas covering five Local Government Areas of the Senatorial District.
This rejection follows an earlier dismissal of the recall petition due to missing contact details. The petitioners later re-submitted the required information, prompting INEC to conduct a fresh review. However, the electoral commission concluded that the petition still did not meet the necessary criteria.
“Consequently, the petition has not met the requirement of Section 69(a) of the Constitution. Therefore, no further action shall be taken on the recall of the Senator,” stated Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information & Voter Education Committee.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was recently suspended from the Senate for alleged breaches of parliamentary rules, prompting some of her constituents to initiate the recall effort. Supporters of the move argued that her absence could leave the constituency without adequate representation.
Her suspension has coincided with a public feud with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, whom she accused of sexual harassment—a claim he has strongly denied. Despite her suspension, she was met with an enthusiastic reception from her supporters on Tuesday in Okehi Local Government Area, defying a ban on public gatherings imposed by the Kogi State Government.
Addressing the crowd, the embattled senator reaffirmed her commitment to her people, declaring: “Nobody and nothing can stop me from coming home. I’m an Ebira woman; this is my land.”
