The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nigeria has received a petition seeking the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Senate. The petition was formally submitted on Monday to the commission’s secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.
According to electoral laws, a recall process requires a petition signed by over 50 percent of registered voters in the senator’s constituency. This is followed by a verification exercise and a referendum, all of which must be concluded within 90 days.
Charity Omole, a representative of the petitioners, stated that the recall effort was initiated because the constituents believe they need an active representative in the Senate.
“We have come to recall her so that we can have a representative in the Senate. We are here to tell INEC to follow the constitutional process and begin the recall,” Omole said.
The petition follows Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension from the Senate on March 6 for “gross misconduct” after an altercation over seating arrangements with Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Her suspension came just days after she accused Akpabio of sexual harassment.
Omole dismissed claims that the recall process was politically motivated, insisting that it was a decision made by the voters themselves.
“We are the ones who voted for her, and we don’t want her anymore. Nobody is bankrolling us. This is just what it is,” she added.
The petitioners claim that out of 488,000 registered voters in Kogi Central, over 250,000 have signed in support of the recall. INEC is expected to verify the petition before taking further action.
