The attempt by the some detractors to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the National Assembly fell flat this Thursday as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the rejection of the petition to recall the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
INEC, in a release endorsed by Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information & Voter Education after a review of the petition, declared that the petition to recall Senator Natasha did not meet constitutional requirements.
INEC cited Section 69(a) of the Constitution, which stipulates that a petition to recall a senator needs the signatures of more than one-half of the registered voters in the lawmaker’s constituency.
According to the Electoral umpire ,“The total number of registered voters in the Kogi Central Senatorial District is 474,554. More than one-half of this figure (i.e. 50%+1) is 237,277+1, which is at least 237,278 voters,”
“Across the 902 Polling Units in 57 Registration Areas and five Local Government Areas that make up the Senatorial District, the Commission ascertained 208,132 signatures/thumbprints from the submission made by the petitioners.”
“This translates to 43.86% of the registered voters which falls short of the constitutional requirement by 29,146 signatories.”
The statement further noted, “In line with the provision of Clause 2(d) of the Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, the Commission has issued a Public Notice to that effect which is also copied to the presiding officer of the Senate.
“The Public Notice, along with a summary of the review of the signatures/thumbprints of the petitioners, which are disaggregated by Local Government Areas, are available on our website and social media platforms for public information.”
The development comes weeks after the electoral body rejected the petition to recall the popular Kogi Senator, citing missing contact details, which the petitioners later submitted.
The embattled 45 year old lawmaker who was recently suspended by the Red Chamber made headlines in recent months after she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, a claim the Akwa Ibom lawmaker equally denied.
Recall, the Commission had assured Nigerians that it would handle the matter with fairness to the parties involved and in line with the provisions of the law and our Regulations and Guidelines.
