The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed the petition issued by Kogi residents requesting the recall process of the lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over failure to meet requirements needed to oust the senator.
INEC’s move to dismiss this request came one week after the electoral body investigated the list of signatories, who signed the petition against Akpoti-Uduaghan, to verify if they were genuine registered voters from the constituency.
According to the commission, the recalling application filed by the suspended lawmaker’s constituents was rejected for failing to meet the requirements of section 69(a) of the 1999 Constitution.
INEC had previously notified them that more than one-half of the signatures of the registered voters in the constituency would be required to strip the senator of her position as stipulated in the amended law.
The total number of registered voters in the Kogi Central Senatorial District is 474,554, implying that the required figure should be 237,277+1, which is at least 237,278 voters.
However, across the 902 Polling Units in 57 Registration Areas and five Local Government Areas that make up the Senatorial District, the Commission ascertained 208,132 signatures/thumbprints from the submission made by the petitioners.
The gathered thumbprints, as stated by the electoral body, translates to 43.86% of the registered voters, which falls short of the constitutional requirement by 29,146 signatories.
“Therefore, no further action shall be taken on the recall of the Senator. In line with the provision of Clause 2(d) of the Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, the Commission has issued a Public Notice to that effect, which is also copied to the presiding officer of the Senate” it stated.
