The move to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has suffered a setback as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared that the petition failed to meet constitutional requirements.

In a post on its official X formerly Twitter handle on Thursday afternoon, INEC stated that the recall petition did not satisfy Section 69(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

This decision comes just a week after INEC initially accepted the petition following the submission of contact details and addresses by the petitioners.

The sudden rejection has sparked speculation, especially as INEC had recently announced it was moving to the verification stage to determine if the petition had the backing of at least 50 per cent of the 474,554 registered voters in Kogi Central Senatorial District.

On March 26, INEC confirmed that the petitioners had rectified earlier deficiencies, prompting the Commission to notify Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and begin verifying the signatures. However, the latest announcement indicates that the petition has fallen short at this crucial stage.

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The recall attempt has been mired in controversy, with reports suggesting that political allies of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello were behind the effort. Akpoti-Uduaghan, a vocal critic of the state’s political establishment, has repeatedly clashed with Bello’s administration.

There are also allegations that some voters were misled into signing the petition under the guise of an empowerment programme.

Meanwhile, a legal battle over the recall is ongoing. A Federal High Court in Lokoja had earlier issued an interim injunction preventing INEC from proceeding with any recall process against Akpoti-Uduaghan, citing concerns over fraudulent signatures. The case is set for hearing on May 6, 2025.

Crediblenewsng.com