CONSTITUENTS of Kogi Central Senatorial District have formerly written the Independent National Electoral Commission (NEC) seeking the recall of the embattled senator representing the district, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In the petition addressed to the Chairman of the electoral umpire, which was received on Monday (today) by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, the constituents cited a number of reasons for their action. They also claimed that in compliance with Section 69 of the 1999 Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), as well as INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall.
The petition, which was accompanied with a list of over 250,000 signatures of constituents out of the 480,000 registered voters, read as follows:
1. We, the undersigned, being duly registered voters of the 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 Akpoli-Uduaghan from the Nigerian Senate.
2. In particular, this petition for the recall of Senator Natasha Akpot-Uduaghan is brought pursuant to Section 69 of the 1999 Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), as well as INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall.
3. Kindly recall that Natasha Akpot-Uduaghan emerged as our Senator by the verdict of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, on Tuesday, 31 October 2023 which affirmed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate as the winner of the February 25, 2023 Kogi Central Senatorial election.
4. 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.
5. 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 commence the constitutional and procedural process of recall to remove Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from office and declare her seat vacant.
To recall a federal lawmaker, a petition must be submitted to the Commission’s Chairman, signed by more than 50 per cent of the registered voters in the constituency, followed by a verification, and then a referendum.
The law provides that a recall process must be concluded within 90 days from the date of receipt of the petition.
Speaking on Monday, Charity Omole, a representative of the constituents, said they submitted the petition to recall the senator because the constituency cannot afford not to have a representative in the Senate.
“We have come to recall her so that we can have a representative in the senate. We are here to tell lNEC to please follow the constitutional process for a recall so that a recall process can begin,” Omole said.
“We submitted the petition and it has been received. All other documents have been received.”
She said the constituents are not being bankrolled to recall the senator, adding that they voted for her and simply do not want her anymore.
“We are the ones that voted for her and we don’t want her anymore because we cannot afford not to have a representative. Nobody is bankrolling us. Nobody is having any personal issues with her. It is just what it is. The game is the game,” she said.
The representative said there are 488,000 registered voters in Kogi Central, out of which more than 250,000 have signed the recall petition.
“INEC is an institutional body. They would have to follow due process. So they will get back to us and do their job,” she added.
Eighteen-Eleven Media reports that Senator Natasha was on 6 March 2025 suspended from the Senate for six months following an altercation she had with Senate President, Godswill Akapbio, on the floor of the Senate.
She was later to accuse lMr Akpabio of sexual harassment, alleging that her refusal to accede to his sexual requests was responsible for her shabby treatment as a senator as well as attempts to frustrate her from performing her constitutional role.
Mr Akpabio has since denied the allegations.
Eighteen-Eleven Media