The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declined a petition seeking the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, citing failure to meet necessary requirements.
In a statement on Tuesday, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education, Sam Olumekun, disclosed that the petition—accompanied by six bags of documents—contained signatures from over half of the 474,554 registered voters across 902 polling units in the district.
However, Olumekun noted critical omissions in the submission, particularly the petitioners’ failure to provide complete contact details as mandated by INEC’s regulations.
“The representatives did not include their contact addresses, telephone numbers, or email addresses in the covering letter, as required under Clause 1(f) of our Guidelines,” he stated. “Only the lead petitioner’s phone number was provided, while the given address—‘Okene, Kogi State’—lacks specificity for proper communication.”
The commissioner emphasized that recalling a legislator remains the prerogative of registered voters who formally express loss of confidence in their representative. He assured that INEC would proceed with signature verification once the petitioners rectify the deficiencies.
“If the petition is resubmitted in full compliance, the Commission will announce the next steps in accordance with the law,” Olumekun added.
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