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INEC Receives Petition To Recall Suspended Kogi Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
The petition, dated March 21, 2025, was submitted at INEC’s headquarters in Abuja by a group identifying itself as Concerned Kogi Youth and Women.
Lokoja, Kogi State – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday received a petition seeking the recall of embattled Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The petition, dated March 21, 2025, was submitted at INEC’s headquarters in Abuja by a group identifying itself as Concerned Kogi Youth and Women.
It was addressed to INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, and titled “Constituents Petition for the Recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Grounds of Loss of Confidence.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently serving a suspension from the Senate over alleged gross misconduct, has recently made headlines for accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment.
In the petition, the group asserted that: “We, the undersigned, being duly registered voters of Kogi Central Senatorial District, hereby invoke our rights under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to formally demand the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Nigerian Senate.”
INEC is expected to review the petition and determine whether it meets the constitutional requirements for initiating a recall process.
“In particular, this petition for the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is brought pursuant to Section 68 of the 1999 Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended), as well as INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall Petitions.
“Kindly recall that Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan emerged as our Senator by verdict of the Court of Appeal, Abuja on Tuesday October 31, 2023 which affirmed the Peoples Democratic Party PDP candidate as winner of the February 25, 2023 Kogi Central Senatorial election.
“This petition arises from our loss of confidence in the Senator on grounds of gross misconduct, abuse of office, evasion of due process and a pattern of deceitful behaviour that has not only embarrassed the people of Kogi Central constituency but has also tarnished the integrity of the Nigerian Senate and our nation’s democratic institutions.”
Meanwhile, a leader of the group, Charity Ijoshe Omole told journalists that the move to recall Natasha was because her constituent have lost confidence in the senator.
“We have lost confidence in her because of her gross misconduct that led to her suspension in the Senate and we the Kogi Central not to be represented.
“We have cone to recall her, because we cannot afford not to be represented. This petition is from Concerned Kogi Youth and Women.
“We, the people of Kogi Central voted her in, and we are here to recall her. We have four 488,000 registered voters and as I speak to you now, we have more than 250,000 voters who have signed for her recall”.
“By this petition, which we have made sure is signed by more than one-half of the registered voters in Kogi Central, we hereby demand that the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC immediately commences the constitutional and procedural process of recall to remove Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from office and declare her seat vacant,” Charity added.
