he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed receipt of additional details, including addresses, phone numbers, and emails of signatories, to the petition seeking to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan of Kogi Central Senatorial District from the 10th Senate.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, disclosed that the information was submitted in a letter addressed to the Commission’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
This follows INEC’s earlier concerns on Tuesday, highlighting the petitioners’ failure to fully comply with procedural requirements by not providing adequate contact details.
Olumekun stated that the Commission will now scrutinize the list of signatories before proceeding with the next phase of the recall process—verifying the authenticity of the voters who endorsed the petition.
“As stipulated in Clause 2(a) of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, a letter has been sent to the Senator in question, notifying her of the petition. This letter has also been delivered to her official address, copied to the presiding officer of the Senate, and published on the Commission’s website,” he said.
The verification process aims to confirm whether more than 50 percent of registered voters in Kogi Central Senatorial District have signed the petition. The outcome will determine the Commission’s next course of action, which will be conducted transparently, Olumekun assured.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan has been at loggerheads with the Senate leadership, a conflict that led to her suspension for six months. However, she has denied any wrongdoing and has taken legal action to challenge her suspension.
Reacting to the controversy, over 50 percent of registered voters from her constituency reportedly signed the petition, citing a loss of confidence in her representation and calling for her immediate recall.
INEC is expected to announce further details on the verification process in the coming days.
