 has identified irregularities in the recall petition against suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, due to the absence of essential contact details from the petitioners.){kind=link}
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has identified irregularities in the recall petition against suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, due to the absence of essential contact details from the petitioners.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education, Sam Olumekun, disclosed that the commission received six bags of documents containing signatures from over half of the district’s 474,554 registered voters.
However, the petition failed to include key details such as addresses, phone numbers, and email contacts, which are mandatory under INEC’s 2024 Recall Regulations and Guidelines.
The petition, submitted on Monday by Charity Ijese on behalf of some constituents and received by INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony, contained only the lead petitioner’s phone number.
The address provided—“Okene, Kogi State”—was deemed insufficient according to the commission’s regulations.
INEC noted that the recall petition spans five local government areas—Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi, and Okene—covering 902 polling units within 57 registration areas.
The commission emphasized that the recall process must strictly adhere to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC’s guidelines before any further action can be taken.
If validated, the next phase will involve verifying the submitted signatures using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
Only registered voters who endorsed the petition will be part of the verification process, and both the petitioners and the senator will be allowed to appoint agents to observe the proceedings.
Also, accredited media and independent observers will be granted access to monitor the process.
INEC reassured the public of its commitment to transparency and adherence to due process while cautioning against misinformation.
The commission also stated that alternative ways of reaching the petitioners were being explored due to the incomplete contact details. Once all legal requirements are fulfilled, INEC will announce the next steps in the recall procedure.