INEC Begins Recall Process for Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan After Petition Update
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially commenced the recall process of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, following the submission of an updated petition by her constituents. The petitioners have now provided the required contact details, including addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses, in accordance with procedural regulations.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information & Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, confirmed that the petitioners’ representatives had complied with the Commission’s guidelines. The updated details were submitted in a letter addressed to INEC Chairman, which was delivered to her official address.
According to INEC’s guidelines, as outlined in Clause 2(a) of the Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, a letter has been sent to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, notifying her of the petition’s receipt. The Senate’s presiding officer has also been copied, and the information is available on INEC’s website.
The next phase in the process involves a thorough review of the list of signatories presented by the petitioners. INEC will verify if more than 50% of the registered voters in Kogi Central have signed the petition. The outcome of this scrutiny will determine the subsequent steps in the recall process, which will be made public in due course.
This follows the Commission’s earlier move on March 25, 2025, when INEC nullified a previous petition from 474,554 alleged voters, citing missing contact information and non-compliance with necessary requirements.
The recall effort comes amid ongoing political tensions surrounding Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was recently suspended for six months from the Senate. She has also denied accusations of apologizing over sexual misconduct allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
As the process moves forward, INEC assures Nigerians that the recall will be conducted transparently and in full compliance with electoral laws.
