The fate of suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, will be decided within the next 90 days, according to The PUNCH.
Last week, constituents from her senatorial district submitted a recall petition against her to the Independent National Electoral Commission. The commission is currently in the process of verifying the signatures submitted by the petitioners.
For the recall process to advance, the petition must be endorsed by more than half of the registered voters in the Kogi Central District. Should this requirement be met, the commission will conduct a referendum within 90 days from the date of receiving the petition.
According to INEC’s detailed Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, if the petition reaches the necessary threshold of support, the commission will issue a public notice detailing the time, date, and location of the referendum. Conversely, if the petition does not meet the required number of signatures, a public notice will be issued to that effect.
INEC’s regulations stipulate that the commission shall “conduct a referendum for the recall of the member where it has verified that more than one half of the persons registered to vote in that member’s constituency have endorsed the petition, which shall take place not later than 90 days from the date of receipt of the petition for recall.”
Additionally, INEC is expected to “issue a public notice or announcement stating the day, time, location, and details for the referendum.”
However, “where the signatures of the petitioners verified is not more than one-half of the registered voters, the Commission shall issue a public notice or announcement to that effect.”
The recall petition stems from multiple controversies involving Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended from the Senate on March 6 for alleged “gross misconduct” following a disagreement with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The petition cites “loss of confidence” as the primary reason for her recall and accuses Akpoti-Uduaghan of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and deceit. The petition was accompanied by six bags filled with documents containing signatures gathered from over half of the 474,554 registered voters in Kogi Central. These signatures were collected from 902 polling units spread across the five local government areas of Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi, and Okene.
In accordance with the commission’s regulations, a notification letter has been sent to Akpoti-Uduaghan, informing her of the petition’s receipt. A copy of the letter has also been forwarded to the presiding officer of the Senate.
The Executive Director of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, Debo Adeniran, commented on the matter, stating that “previous attempts for recall have failed largely due to the complexity of collecting and verifying the required signatures.” Despite the challenges, Adeniran stressed that Nigeria must work towards ensuring that its democratic practices are reflective of genuine democratic values.
He cited the United States as an example, where citizens can more easily recall officials who no longer wish to serve. Adeniran further urged the National Assembly to take the lead in enacting laws that simplify the recall process for elected representatives, including at the state and local government levels. “The National Assembly must take the lead in enacting laws that simplify the recall process for elected representatives, not just at the legislative level but also at the state and local government levels,” he said.
Moreover, Adeniran called for a review of the current laws governing the recall process, suggesting that “if they prove too cumbersome or ineffective, they should be amended to make it easier for constituents to remove elected officials they no longer wish to serve.”
Similarly, the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Auwal Rafsanjani, highlighted the need for a “national debate on the recall process of elected officials in Nigeria,” advocating for a legal framework that permits recalls only on legitimate grounds.
Rafsanjani explained that the recall process should be driven by popular demand and based on a violation of public trust, such as corruption, human rights abuses, or a failure to perform official duties. He called for a nationwide discussion to refine the recall process to ensure both transparency and fairness.
“This is not something that can be done by a few people alone; it requires a thorough national conversation to ensure that the recall system is transparent, legitimate, and based on clear, evidence-based reasons for removal,” Rafsanjani remarked.
