INEC Notifies Senate as Constituents Amend Recall Petition Against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally notified the Nigerian Senate of an amended recall petition against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District. The amendment corrected errors in the petitioners’ contact details, which had initially stalled the process.

In a statement released on Wednesday, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, confirmed that the petitioners had now provided their updated phone numbers, email addresses, and other necessary details. This information was submitted to INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, ensuring compliance with the commission’s 2024 Regulations and Guidelines for Recall.

Following this amendment, INEC sent an official letter to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, informing her of the petition’s receipt. A copy of this letter was also forwarded to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and made publicly accessible on INEC’s website. The commission emphasized that the recall process would continue in accordance with legal provisions.

INEC Verification of Signatures: Next Phase of the Recall Process

With the amended petition now meeting the required procedural standards, INEC announced that the next stage would involve verifying whether over 50% of registered voters in Kogi Central endorsed the recall. The commission stated that this verification would be conducted in the coming days, with the results made public.

INEC reassured Nigerians that the recall process would be transparent and guided strictly by constitutional provisions. “The next step is to scrutinize the list of signatories submitted by the petitioners to ascertain that the petition is signed by more than one half (over 50 percent) of the registered voters in the constituency,” the statement read.

The petition, presented by Charity Ijese on behalf of the constituents, was officially received and stamped by INEC’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. The constituents insist that over 200,000 registered voters—more than half of the senatorial district’s electorate—have signed the recall petition.

Political Tensions: Suspension and Allegations Against Akpoti-Uduaghan

The recall petition follows a series of political controversies involving Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended from the Senate on March 6 for alleged “gross misconduct.” The suspension was linked to a dispute with Senate President Akpabio, whom she had previously accused of sexual harassment.

The recall petition, titled “Constituents’ Petition for the Recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Grounds of Loss of Confidence,” alleges that the senator engaged in gross misconduct, abuse of office, and deceptive behavior. The petitioners argue that her continued representation in the Senate is against the will of the people of Kogi Central.

In response, Akpoti-Uduaghan has denied any wrongdoing, claiming that the recall effort is politically motivated. She has accused the Senate leadership of attempting to silence her through intimidation. However, the recall process has now gained significant traction, with INEC moving forward with verification procedures.

Senate Hearing Turns Heated as Nwebonyi Clashes with Ezekwesili

In a related development, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions convened on Tuesday to review Akpoti-Uduaghan’s sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Akpabio. The session quickly turned contentious when Ebonyi North Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi engaged in a heated exchange with former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili.

Ezekwesili, who was present to support Akpoti-Uduaghan’s case, interrupted Nwebonyi during the hearing, telling him to “shut up.” In response, an infuriated Nwebonyi launched a verbal attack, declaring, “You will never be a senator” and calling Ezekwesili “an insult to womanhood.” He also questioned why she would speak to a sitting senator in such a manner.

Defending his outburst in an interview with Channels Television, Nwebonyi stated, “How can I regret the scenario? I gave it to her. Is it right for her to address me that way?” He argued that Ezekwesili had displayed disrespect and claimed that he was merely defending his position as a senator.

Ezekwesili Defends Herself, Calls for Greater Women’s Representation

Following the altercation, Ezekwesili appeared on Sunrise Daily on Channels Television, where she expressed satisfaction with how the exchange unfolded. She stated that the incident had exposed the deep-seated patriarchal attitudes in Nigeria’s political sphere.

“I was very pleased with what happened because now it is in the public domain what women endure in many instances,” Ezekwesili said. She stressed that the episode underscored the need for society to resist silencing women and to ensure that female voices are heard in governance.

As the recall process against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan moves forward, political tensions continue to escalate. INEC’s verification of voter signatures will be a crucial next step, determining whether the recall will proceed to a referendum. Meanwhile, the confrontation between Nwebonyi and Ezekwesili has further highlighted the contentious atmosphere surrounding the Senate’s handling of the case.