INEC: Recalling Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan More Expensive Than Regular Election
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that conducting a recall election, such as the one facing Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, is significantly more costly than a standard constituency election. This revelation came during an online discussion on INEC’s recall regulations, where officials detailed the complex and resource-intensive process.
Mohammed Kunna, Special Adviser to the INEC Chairman, explained that a recall involves multiple stages, including signature verification using the Bi-Modal Voter Verification System (BVAS) and a subsequent referendum. He equated the process to conducting three senatorial district elections.
“In my opinion, the recall process is much more expensive than conducting a single senatorial district election,” Mr. Kunna stated.
INEC officials confirmed they are proceeding with the verification of over 200,000 signatures submitted by petitioners seeking to recall Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan. The senator and her supporters have disputed the validity of these signatures.
The recall effort follows a period of controversy surrounding Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s actions in the Senate, including allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and her subsequent suspension.
Notably, no recall of a lawmaker has ever been successfully completed in Nigeria’s history.
