The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has affirmed that it has now received the contact details of the representatives behind the petition seeking the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District.
This petition, reportedly endorsed by over half of the 474,554 registered voters in the constituency, was earlier submitted but initially failed to meet the procedural requirements stipulated by INEC.
INEC had previously noted that the petitioners failed to provide crucial contact information—including addresses, phone numbers, and email details—as mandated by Clause 1(f) of the electoral body’s Regulations and Guidelines. This omission had raised procedural concerns about the validity of the submission.
However, in a new development on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, INEC confirmed that the missing details had now been provided in a formal letter addressed to the Commission’s Chairman.
INEC’s National Commissioner & Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, clarified that, in line with Clause 2(a) of the 2024 Recall Regulations and Guidelines, the Commission has now formally notified Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan about the petition against her.
This notification has also been forwarded to the Presiding Officer of the Senate and published on INEC’s official website for transparency.
The Commission’s next course of action involves a meticulous verification of the signatures submitted by petitioners, to determine if the petition indeed carries the endorsement of more than 50% of the senatorial district’s registered voters.
INEC has assured the public that this verification process will be conducted openly and transparently. The outcome will be made public, and the subsequent steps in the recall process will be determined based on the results of this authentication exercise.
This unfolding political development marks a significant moment in Nigeria’s electoral jurisprudence, as the recall process remains an infrequently exercised but constitutionally recognized mechanism for holding elected officials accountable to their constituents.
