THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday, April 3, declared that the petition to recall the senator representing Kogi Central, Mrs. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, had not met the stipulated constitutional requirements.
In a terse statement on Thursday, the Commission stated on its X handle: “The petition for the recall of the senator representing the Kogi Central Senatorial District has not met the requirement of Section 69(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).”
Section 69(a) of the Constitution stipulates that a petition to recall a senator needs the signatures of more than one-half of the registered voters in the lawmaker’s constituency.
But according to the statement issued by INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information & Voter Education Committee, Mr. Sam Olumekun: “The total number of registered voters in the Kogi Central Senatorial District is 474,554. More than one-half of this figure (i.e. 50%+1) is 237,277+1, which is at least 237,278 voters.
“Across the 902 Polling Units in 57 Registration Areas and five Local Government Areas that make up the Senatorial District, the Commission ascertained 208,132 signatures/thumbprints from the submission made by the petitioners.”
This declaration came weeks after the Commission initially rejected the petition, citing missing addresses and other issues, which were later provided by the petitioners and acknowledged by INEC subsequently.
The embattled senator has accused INEC of guiding the petitioners rather than dismiss the petition.
Recall that a group of voters claiming to be constituents of the district, under the aegis of Concerned Kogi Youth and Women, led by an ex-aide of fomer Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, and currently an aide to Governor Usman Ododo, submitted the petition for Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recall as a senator.
The petitioners had premised heir action her six months suspension by the senate over alleged misconduct, which she has challeneged in court, following her sexual harrassment allegation against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
Akpoti-Uduaghan has consistently accused Akpabio and Bello of using fake constituents to initiate the process, insisting that her constituents were solidly in support of her actions as their representative.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senator was treated to a rousing welcome by a mammorth crowd from the five local councils that constitute the distrct at a homecoming event at her Ihima community of Okehi Local Council, despite hirried cubs by the local and state governments, as well as the state Police Command to forestall the ceremony, citing security concerns.
She said: “All available evidence and facts point directly to Bello as the mastermind behind the recall move,” adding that it was a continuation of Bello’s political vendetta against her person, given his past actions before, during and immediately after the 2023 general elections.
“I will advise the former governor to rather focus on clearing his name over allegations of fraudulent diversion of N89.2billion, instead of attempting to destabilise the mandate given to me by the people of Kogi Central.
“The former governor’s hands are already full with corruption allegations, yet he is still bent on frustrating the will of the people.
“His actions before and during the last general elections, where he sponsored numerous attacks against me, are well documented. This recall attempt is nothing but another ploy to undermine the people’s will.
“It is now very clear to the whole world how popular I am in my constituency. The powers that be did try to suppress the will of the people, but my people emphatically said no. No to injustice, no to exploitation of women, no to fake recall, no to Bello and his allies.
“They (my people) came out en masse to resist government intimidation. We thank them for the massive show of love. We also thank our oppressors because their actions have now made them more unpopular while we gained more support.
“As for me, I will do more for my people. I will not betray them. I will continue to give my best and they should be rest assured of our best representation all the time,” she noted.
Published:
Related articles
Recent articles
