The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has today formally received a petition from constituents of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, calling for the commencement of her recall. Recall the court has last week restrained INEC from any process or procedure that will lead to the recall of Senator Natasha from the senate until further notice.
Secretary to the electoral umpire, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, received the petition which was delivered to the commission headquarters to day in Abuja.
Natasha, who is currently a Kogi central senator in the hallowed chamber, is currently on suspension after she falls out with the leadership of the red chamber.
The petitioners claimed that, out of the 480,000 registered voters in the senatorial district, about 250,000 constituents’ members have indicated interest to sign the petition.
The petition is titled _Constituents’ Petition for the Recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Grounds of Loss of Confidence’.
The petition partly reads: “We, the undersigned, being duly registered voters of the Kogi Central Senatorial District, hereby invoke our rights under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to formally demand the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Nigerian Senate.
“In particular, this petition for the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is brought pursuant to Section 69 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), as well as INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall Petitions.
“This petition arises from our loss of confidence in the Senator on the grounds of gross misconduct, abuse of office, evasion of due process, and a pattern of deceitful behaviour that has not only embarrassed the people of Kogi Central but has also tarnished the integrity of the Nigerian Senate and our nation’s democratic institutions.
“By this petition, which we have made sure is signed by more than half of the registered voters in Kogi Central, we hereby demand that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) immediately commence the constitutional and procedural process of recall to remove Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from office and declare her seat vacant.”
