 has rejected the petition seeking to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan){kind=link}
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected the petition seeking to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, citing concerns over its authenticity and failure to meet constitutional requirements.
In a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, INEC stated: “The petition for the recall of the Senator representing the Kogi Central Senatorial District has not met the requirement of Section 69(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).”
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of orchestrating the recall attempt, despite her strong backing from constituents. She claimed that the move was politically motivated.
A viral video circulating online purportedly shows individuals in a room allegedly fabricating over 250,000 signatures submitted to INEC to justify the recall process.
The footage has fueled further controversy and raised questions about the legitimacy of the petition.
The senator’s recall bid follows her recent six-month suspension from the Senate.
She had been sanctioned after publicly accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment, a claim that generated significant public debate.
The rejection of the petition by INEC would be viewed by many as a major victory for Akpoti-Uduaghan, reaffirming her position despite political pressures.
However, the controversy surrounding the recall attempt continues to spark heated discussions.