INEC Â claims the petition failed to meet the conditions set by Section 69(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) for the recall of a senator.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed the petition seeking to recall Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, (PDP, Kogi central) in the senate, citing non-compliance with constitutional requirements.
INEC confirmed the rejection in a statement on Thursday, stating that the petition failed to meet the conditions set by Section 69(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) for the recall of a senator.
The petition, titled “Constituents’ Petition for the Recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Grounds of Loss of Confidence,” was submitted at INEC’s headquarters in Abuja last Monday.
It was received by the Commission’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony. According to the petitioners, over 250,000 constituents signed the document out of approximately 480,000 registered voters in the senatorial district.
READ ALSO: Natasha accuses Akpabio of plotting her assasination
Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan is currently under suspension from the senate for allegedly violating house rules. Her suspension stems from a heated confrontation with senate president Godswill Akpabio, which escalated into a major legislative standoff.
The dispute originated from her vocal opposition to certain decisions in the red chamber, leading to accusations of misconduct and eventual disciplinary action against her. Her supporters, however, claim that the recall petition was politically motivated and aimed at silencing her.
Parliament Reports recalls that speaking at her homecoming rally on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused the electoral body of bias and collusion in the recall attempt.
She said, “What I see INEC doing is aiding and guiding petitioners on how to perfect their illicit acts.
“The first time the petition was submitted, they didn’t have address and phone numbers, so INEC went out to guide them on how to submit information that will perfect their petition.
“And what did they do? The petitioners, who were from the other party, the APC, submitted a letterhead. What was the name of it? Kogi central Political Frontier. And the address there was number 4, Oboroke.”
INEC’s decision now gives the embattled senator a breather unless further action is taken by her constituents.
