The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected a petition seeking the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, citing procedural irregularities in the submission.
In a statement on Tuesday, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, disclosed that the petitioners failed to meet the necessary requirements for a valid recall process.
According to Olumekun, the representatives of the petitioners did not provide essential contact details such as a valid address, multiple telephone numbers, and email addresses, as required by Clause 1(f) of INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines.
“The commission’s immediate observation is that the representatives of the petitioners did not provide their contact address, telephone number(s), and email address(es) in the covering letter forwarding the petition through which they can be contacted.
The address given is ‘Okene, Kogi State,’ which is not a definite location for contacting the petitioners,” Olumekun stated.
He further noted that only one phone number was provided, belonging to the “lead petitioner,” rather than multiple contacts from other representatives, as stipulated by the regulations.
INEC emphasized that all recall petitions would be processed in strict compliance with legal provisions, assuring that further steps would be announced if the petitioners fully comply with submission requirements.
“Consequently, if the petitioners fully comply with the requirements of Clause 1(f) of the regulations and guidelines regarding the submission of their petition, the commission will announce the next steps in line with extant laws, regulations, and guidelines.
In the absence of a definite contact address, the commission is making efforts to use other means to notify the representatives of the petitioners of the situation,” INEC stated.
The commission also urged the public to disregard speculations circulating on social media regarding the petition, reaffirming its commitment to a transparent process.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has been at the center of controversy following her six-month suspension from the Senate.
She was sanctioned after alleging that Senate President Godswill Akpabio had sexually harassed her—a claim that sparked heated debates.
On Monday, some constituents submitted a recall petition with approximately 250,000 signatures to INEC, seeking to remove her from office.
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