INEC Receives Recall Petition Against Suspended Kogi Senator Natasha

A group of registered voters from Kogi Central Senatorial District, under the banner of Concerned Kogi Youth and Women, has submitted a petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) demanding the recall of their senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The petition, dated March 21, 2025, was delivered to INEC’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday, March 24, 2025.

The group’s leader, Charity Ijoshe Omole, stated that they had lost confidence in the senator due to her recent suspension from the Senate, which they claim has left Kogi Central without proper representation. According to Omole, over 250,000 registered voters—more than half of the district’s 488,000 voters—have signed the petition, meeting the constitutional requirement for a recall process.

The petition, addressed to INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, cites Section 68 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and INEC’s recall guidelines. It accuses Akpoti-Uduaghan of gross misconduct, abuse of office, evasion of due process, and deceptive conduct, which they say has damaged the reputation of both the Senate and Kogi Central.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was declared winner of the February 2023 Kogi Central election after a court ruling on October 31, 2023. Her recent suspension by the Senate has fueled discontent among some constituents, prompting the recall effort.

She said; “We have lost confidence in her because of her gross misconduct that led to her suspension in the Senate and we the Kogi Central not to be represented.

“We have cone to recall her, because we cannot afford not to be represented. This petition is from Concerned Kogi Youth and Women.

“We, the people of Kogi Central voted her in, and we are here to recall her. We have four 488,000 registered voters and as I speak to you now, we have more than 250,000 voters who have signed for her recall”.

In the petition addressed to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and titled, “Constituents Petition for the Recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on grounds of Loss of Confidence”, the petitioners said; “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 Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Nigerian Senate.

“In particular, this petition for the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is brought pursuant to Section 68 of the 1999 Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended), as well as INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall Petitions.

“Kindly recall that Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan emerged as our Senator by verdict of the Court of Appeal, Abuja on Tuesday October 31, 2023 which affirmed the Peoples Democratic Party PDP candidate as winner of the February 25, 2023 Kogi Central Senatorial election.

“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.

“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 commences the constitutional and procedural process of recall to remove Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from office and declare her seat vacant”.