INEC Receives Recall Petition Against Senator Natasha Despite Fraudulent Recall Process

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has received a petition to commence the recall process of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly. The Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, confirmed receipt of the petition on Monday.

The move, however, comes despite strong opposition from the Kogi Central People’s Alliance (KOCEPA), which has described the recall process as fraudulent, deceitful, and politically motivated.

Addressing a press conference at Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State on Sunday, KOCEPA Coordinator Abdulrazak Baba accused certain political figures of orchestrating a deceptive scheme to manipulate constituents into signing the recall petition.

Baba said many residents were misled into believing they were attending an empowerment program, only to be compelled to sign documents initiating the recall process. He further alleged that the recall attempt was rejected in many polling units, wards, and local government areas, with community members chasing away the organisers.

It is sufficient to say that a genuine recall should be an organic process and not something engineered by a set of opportunistic enemies. The public was deceived into believing that the manipulative recall charade was for the purpose of empowerment, Baba stated.

KOCEPA also pointed out that the Federal High Court in Lokoja had issued a restraining order on March 20, 2025, preventing INEC from receiving recall petitions against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.

However, in a dramatic turn of events, the same court later set aside its earlier ruling, clearing the way for INEC to proceed with the process.

It will be recalled that the Nigerian Senate suspended Senator Natasha for six months following a Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct report.

The decision was made during Thursday’s plenary session, presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, whom Akpoti-Uduaghan has accused of sexual harassment and political victimisation.

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