Naija247news reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially notified Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of an ongoing move to recall her from the Senate. The electoral body also confirmed that it has received the contact details of petitioners pushing for her removal.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Naija247news gathered that the recall process is being driven by a section of her constituents, who claim dissatisfaction with her representation in the National Assembly. The move, if successful, could lead to a referendum to determine whether she retains her seat as the senator representing Kogi Central.
According to Naija247news, INEC’s notification is in line with the constitutional provisions guiding the recall of elected officials in Nigeria. The commission reportedly acknowledged receiving signatures and contact details of the petitioners, a crucial step in verifying the authenticity of the recall request.
Naija247news understands that the process requires the electoral body to scrutinize the signatures submitted by the petitioners to ensure they meet the required threshold as stipulated in the 1999 Constitution. For a recall to progress, at least 50% of registered voters in the affected senatorial district must support the petition.
Sources within INEC, who spoke to Naija247news on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the commission will soon commence the verification process to determine the legitimacy of the claims against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan. The senator, on her part, has yet to make a formal statement regarding the recall attempt, but her supporters have dismissed it as a politically motivated move aimed at undermining her influence in Kogi politics.
Naija247news reports that recall attempts against Nigerian lawmakers are rare, and the few instances where they have been initiated often fail to reach the final stage. Political analysts believe that the process faces multiple hurdles, including the difficulty in mobilizing the required number of verified voters to trigger a referendum.
Observers are closely monitoring the unfolding situation as INEC moves to implement the next phase of the process. If the petition meets legal requirements, the electoral body will conduct a referendum where voters in Kogi Central will decide whether to retain or remove Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan from office.
