A group of registered voters from the Kogi Central Senatorial District has formally submitted a petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seeking the recall of the suspended senator representing the district, Barrister Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The petition, which was dated March 21, 2025, was handed over to INEC at its headquarters in Abuja on Monday, March 24, 2025, by the group, Concerned Kogi Youth and Women.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Charity Ijoshe Omole, its leader, explained that the constituents had lost confidence in Akpoti-Uduaghan due to what they described as “gross misconduct” that led to her suspension from the Senate. Omole stressed that Kogi Central could not afford to be left without representation.
“We, the people of Kogi Central, voted her in, and we are here to recall her,” Omole said. “We have 488,000 registered voters, and as of now, over 250,000 voters have signed the petition for her recall. We cannot afford to remain unrepresented.”
The petition, addressed to INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu, is titled “Constituents Petition for the Recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Grounds of Loss of Confidence.”
The petitioners invoke their rights under the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and cite Section 68, which outlines the legal framework for recalling elected officials.
The petition also references the senator’s election victory, which was upheld by the Court of Appeal on October 31, 2023, confirming her as the winner of the February 25, 2023, Kogi Central Senatorial election.
In the petition, the group expressed their dissatisfaction with Akpoti-Uduaghan’s conduct, accusing her of gross misconduct, abuse of office, evasion of due process, and a pattern of deceitful behavior. These actions, they claim, have not only embarrassed the people of Kogi Central but also damaged the integrity of the Senate and Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
The petitioners conclude by urging INEC to begin the recall process, stating that the document has been signed by more than half of the registered voters in Kogi Central, thus meeting the legal requirements for initiating the process.
They have requested INEC to immediately start the constitutional process of recalling Akpoti-Uduaghan from office and to declare her seat vacant.
