By Suleiman Ibrahim
A recall petition targeting Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator for Kogi Central, has ignited discussions surrounding Nigeria’s constitutional framework for the removal of lawmakers.
On Monday, a group of constituents from Kogi Central formally submitted their request to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the senator’s recall.
Charity Omole, a spokesperson for the petitioners, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “We have come to recall her so that we can have a representative in the Senate. We urge INEC to adhere to the constitutional process for a recall so that this process can commence.”
Omole further clarified the motivations behind the petition, asserting, “We are the ones who voted for her, and we no longer want her as our representative. Our constituency cannot afford to be without a voice in the Senate. There is no external influence driving this; it is simply a matter of necessity.”
According to Nigerian law, a recall petition must be submitted to the chairman of INEC, requiring signatures from over 50% of registered voters in the constituency. This is followed by a verification process and a subsequent referendum. The law mandates that the recall process be completed within 90 days of receiving the petition.
Notably, while the petition claims to have garnered approximately 250,000 signatures, this figure significantly exceeds the 106,000 total votes cast in the February 2023 general election that led to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s election to the Senate.
