The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says the recall petition against Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has not met the constitutional requirement due to the absence of a definite contact address for the petitioners.
The commission, in a statement signed by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, confirmed receiving six bags of documents containing signatures from over half of 474,554 registered voters but noted that the petitioners failed to provide required contact details.
It was gathered that the submission, led by Senior Special Assistant to Governor Usman Ododo on Women and Youth Mobilisation, Charity Ijese, only included the lead petitioner’s phone number and a vague address, Okene, Kogi State.
INEC insisted that the recall process must comply with the 1999 Constitution, Electoral Act 2022, and INEC’s Guidelines for Recall 2024.
INEC emphasized that the recall process is a constitutional right of voters who have lost confidence in their representative. However, for the process to move forward, the petition must meet all submission requirements before verification of signatures can commence.
“If the petitioners fully comply with the requirements of Clause 1(f) of the Regulations and Guidelines regarding the submission of their petition, the Commission will announce the next steps in line with the extant laws, regulations, and guidelines,” the statement read.
