April 06, (THEWILL) – The Senator representing Kogi Central at the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has had the last laugh, while her traducers pushing for her recall by hook or crook must be wailing.
THEWILL checks show the ambiguous nature surrounding the process has alerted the Independent National Electoral Commission to a futile exercise. For one, the logistics and monetary implications as well as the likely political backlash has made the Commission take a closer look at the whole exercise that was mired in high wired politics.
Widely reported as hurriedly sponsored and put up by her home government with the active support of her feuding colleagues at the Senate, the recall process fell short of the constitutional requirement regarding signatures and thumbprints, address and location.
Thus, the Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday declared that the petition seeking the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has failed to meet constitutional requirements.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, thus survived plans to recall her from the National Assembly.
THEWILL recalls that some registered voters from the Kogi Central Senatorial District, led by the Chairperson of the Kogi Women Development Association, Omole Charity Ijese, submitted a petition to INEC on March 24 to recall Natasha from the National Assembly.
According to INEC, “The petition was accompanied by six bags of documents said to be signatures collected from over half of the 474,554 registered voters spread across 902 Polling Units in 57 Registration Areas (Wards) in the five Local Government Areas of Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi and Okene.”
Sam Olumekun, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, the committee provided an update.
He said the petition failed to meet constitutional requirements enshrined in Section 69(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), which requires the signatures of more than half of the registered voters in the constituency. The Commission estimated the total number of registered voters in the Kogi Central Senatorial District at 474,554. However, more than half of this figure (i.e., 50 percent+1) is 237,277+1, which means that at least 237,278 voters are needed to sign Natasha’s recall.
Olumekun explained that 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 per cent of the registered voters, which falls short of the constitutional requirement by 29,146 signatories.
He said, “The Commission held its regular weekly meeting today, Thursday, 3rd April 2025. Among other issues, the meeting considered and approved the report of its physical count of the signatures/thumbprints forwarded with the petition for the recall of the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, in line with Clause 2(b) of the Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024.
“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.
“First, we ensured that the petitioners complied with the requirements for the submission of the petition. Secondly, we notified the member who sought to be recalled in writing, copied the presiding officer of the Senate and simultaneously published the notice on our website.Thirdly, we informed Nigerians that the next step would be to carefully ascertain the number of signatures/thumbprints to ensure that the petition complies with the requirements of the law. This exercise has now been completed.
“For emphasis, a petition for the recall of a Senator must comply with the provision of Section 69(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) which requires the signatures of more than one-half of the registered voters in the constituency.
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 per cent+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 per cent of the registered voters, which falls short of the constitutional requirement by 29,146 signatories.
“Consequently, the petition has not met the requirement of Section 69(a) of the Constitution. Therefore, no further action shall be taken on the recall of the Senator.
“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.”
To recall a federal lawmaker, the Constitution requires that a petition must be submitted to the INEC chairman, signed by more than 50 per cent of the registered voters in the constituency, followed by verification and then a referendum conducted by the Commission.
But the figures failed to add up and had to be made up after a court process which initially ruled for a suspension vacated the case in favour of the recall process. Even then the figures kept growing. Initially, 250,000 registered voters allegedly signed the petition to recall Akpoti-Uduaghan. The figure was a far cry from the 106,000 total votes cast in the February 2023 general election that elected her to the senate.
Overall, Kogi central has 488,000 registered voters, but only “250,000” signatures, which represented about 43 per cent of the electorate, were submitted for the recall process.
Strictly, here was where the recall process failed to follow the rules set by the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act. First, more than half of the registered voters in the area must sign a petition. For example, in Kogi central, more than 244,000 voters need to sign. Technically, the number needed might be around 290,000 because it is anticipated that some signatures will be disqualified.
Other factors that muddled up the recall process and made everything looked like a gang-up political machination, was the clear involvement of the Stater governor Usman Ododo and his predecessor, Yahaya Bello in the recall process.
Even so, the petitioners have regrouped and pledged to mobilize more votes to meet the required constitutional threshold. Salihu Habid, their spokesperson said, “We thank INEC for making it clear that the bulk of the people of Kogi Central are behind us and that we did not import a crowd like a desperate, embattled lawmaker. We will pursue all lawful and constitutional means to ensure our voices are heard and respected. After God, power belongs to the people.” With INEC dismissal of the petition as unworkable, it is yet to be seen where the petitioners will go with their plan.
Expectedly Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, in her reaction to the failed recall process, praised INEC for standing firm against external pressures, stating, “God has put to shame anti-democratic forces plotting my recall from the Senate, including one of the most wanted persons by the EFCC, former Governor Yahaya Bello. Nobody, be it a former Governor Yahaya Bello or Senate President Godswill Akpabio, can toy with the mandate freely given by the resolute people of Kogi Central.
Meanwhile, INEC has copied its letter on the failed recall process to the President of the Senate, Senator Akpabio, while the Kogi State government stated that “that Governor Ododo has no interest in the political theatrics of the suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Her baseless allegations are nothing but a feeble attempt to stir unnecessary controversy and cover up her blatant disregard for the law. She has once again proven that she has no respect for rules and laws.”
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
