The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially ruled out the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, citing the failure of petitioners to meet the constitutional requirements.
This decision was announced on Thursday, April 3, 2025, following the Commission’s weekly meeting, during which the review of the signatures and thumbprints submitted for the recall process was finalized.
According to INEC, the recall petition for the Kogi Central Senator did not meet the threshold prescribed by Section 69(a) of the Nigerian Constitution, which mandates that more than one-half of the registered voters in a constituency must sign the petition for a recall to proceed.
The Commission revealed that while the required number stood at 237,278 signatures, only 208,132 valid signatures were submitted, representing 43.86% of registered voters—falling short by 29,146.
In a statement signed b ySam Olumekun mni
National Commissioner and Chairman, Information & Voter Education Committee, the Commission said it was meticulous in its review process to ensure transparency.
“We followed due process at every stage. From verifying the authenticity of the petition to ascertaining the number of signatories, we have upheld fairness and legality,” the statement stated.
He added that INEC took extra measures to notify all relevant parties, including the senator in question and the Senate leadership, before carrying out the verification.
Explaining the process further, INEC disclosed that the signatures were drawn from 902 polling units across five local government areas within Kogi Central Senatorial District.
According to the Commission, during the verification exercise, several discrepancies were observed, leading to the exclusion of some signatures.
“Our verification team found multiple irregularities, including cases of duplication and unverified thumbprints,” part of the statement stated.
