A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State has issued an interim injunction preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or acting on any petition seeking the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District.
The ruling, delivered on Thursday, effectively halts any potential recall process against the senator pending the determination of a Motion on Notice. The injunction explicitly restrains INEC, its staff, agents, and assigns from receiving, accepting, or conducting any referendum based on recall petitions bearing signatures from Kogi Central constituents.
The court’s decision followed an ex-parte application for an interim injunction, supported by an affidavit of extreme urgency and other court documents. The application was filed by Anebe Jacob Ogirima and four other registered voters from Kogi Central Senatorial District.
Smart Nwachimere, Esq., representing the applicants from West-Idahosa (SAN) & Co., moved the application before the court.
The court has adjourned the case to 6 May 2025, for a report on service and further mention.
This interim injunction will remain in effect until the court makes a final decision on the substantive Motion on Notice.
The ruling effectively puts on hold any immediate attempts to recall Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, creating a legal pause in the ongoing political situation within the Kogi Central Senatorial District.
There were reports on Wednesday of a move by unidentified persons to procure signatures of members of the embattled senator’s constituency. Eighteen-Eleven Media gathered that the constituents were hoodwinked into believing that the collation of their signatures was meant for some kind of empowerment initiative. It was much later that the real purpose of the collation of signatures dawned on the constituents.
Eighteen-Eleven Media