The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed the petition seeking to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, citing failure to meet constitutional requirements.
In an official statement shared via its X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, INEC clarified that the petition did not fulfill the necessary conditions stipulated in Section 69(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“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),” the commission stated.
The recall process, a rare and complex constitutional provision, demands substantial voter endorsement before it can be considered valid. While details regarding the specific shortcomings of the petition remain undisclosed, INEC’s ruling effectively halts any immediate attempts to unseat the senator through this method.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, a prominent figure in Kogi politics, has not publicly commented on the development. However, political observers speculate that the failed recall effort may have been driven by partisan interests and local political tensions.
With INEC’s verdict now public, the petitioners may have to explore alternative political or legal avenues if they wish to challenge the senator’s mandate.