Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, has refuted claims that she has received an official notification from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding a petition for her recall.
Speaking with SaharaReporters, the senator dismissed circulating reports that INEC had formally served her the notice, stating that she has yet to receive any official correspondence. This follows widespread circulation of an alleged INEC notice addressed to her, titled: “Receipt of a Petition for Your Recall from the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
A document purportedly from INEC, dated March 25, 2025, and signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Mrs. Rose Oriaran Anthony, surfaced online. The letter states:
> “Pursuant to Section 69 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), I write to notify you of the receipt of a petition from representatives of registered voters in your constituency seeking your recall from the Senate.”
The letter further mentions that the notification aligns with Clause 2(a) of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall, 2024, and that copies had been sent to the Senate’s presiding officer while also being published on INEC’s official website.
However, in response to inquiries, Senator Natasha maintained that she had not been personally served the notice, questioning whether INEC’s publication of the letter on its website and social media suffices as an official service.
> “I haven’t been served. I will ask my lawyers,” she stated.
The recall petition against Senator Natasha has been embroiled in controversy from the outset. Initially, INEC rejected the petition on March 25, citing the petitioners’ failure to provide verifiable contact information. However, a day later, on March 26, the electoral body announced that the petitioners had corrected the deficiencies by submitting their addresses, phone numbers, and email contacts in a formal letter to the Commission’s chairman.
With these corrections, INEC has proceeded to the next phase—signature verification. The Commission is set to scrutinize whether the petition meets the constitutional requirement of securing over 50% of the 474,554 registered voters in Kogi Central Senatorial District.
Despite INEC’s progression, the recall petition faces a legal roadblock. A Federal High Court in Lokoja has issued an interim injunction restraining INEC from proceeding with the process, citing allegations that many of the signatures on the petition were fraudulently obtained. The court has scheduled a hearing on the matter for May 6, 2025.
Amidst these legal entanglements, multiple sources allege that the recall effort is politically motivated, reportedly orchestrated by allies of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. These allegations suggest that the move is a retaliatory strike against Senator Natasha for her vocal criticisms of the state’s political establishment.
Adding fuel to the controversy, reports have emerged that several constituents may have unknowingly signed the recall petition under false pretenses, believing they were participating in an empowerment program.
With INEC pushing forward despite the court injunction, the battle over Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recall is shaping up to be a legal and political showdown. The outcome of the May 6 court hearing will likely determine the next steps in what is already a high-stakes political drama in Kogi Central.
For now, Senator Natasha remains firm in her stance—she has not been officially notified, and until she is, the recall remains, in her words, “mere speculation.”
PIONEER NEWS 