Kogi Central Constituents Move to Recall Senator Natasha, INEC Denies Involvement

Some constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District have launched a recall process against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, citing a loss of confidence in her representation.

The exercise commenced on Wednesday in Okehi Local Government Area, where a large number of voters gathered to support the petition for her recall.

According to Nura Ibrahim, one of the participants, the move transcends political affiliations and stems from dissatisfaction with the senator’s performance, particularly in tackling issues such as poverty, infrastructure, and education.

“The decision to initiate this process was not taken lightly. We have tried to engage Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan multiple times, but our concerns have been met with disregard and arrogance,” Ibrahim said.

The recall process is scheduled to take place across all polling units in the five local government areas of Kogi Central over two days. Constituents are required to sign a petition calling for her removal from office.

However, reports indicate that some constituents may have been misled into signing. According to sources, a town crier in Okehi invited residents for an empowerment program, only for them to be asked to submit their voter card numbers in exchange for money upon arrival.

Meanwhile, the Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Gabriel Longpet, denied any knowledge of an official recall process.

“I am not aware of any recall beyond unverified social media reports. No one has officially contacted me regarding this matter,” Longpet stated.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is currently serving a six-month suspension from the Senate following a confrontation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The senator had accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, leading to disciplinary action against her.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) guidelines, a recall petition must be signed by more than half of the registered voters in the affected constituency. The petition will then be verified at polling units before being forwarded to the Commission’s chairman for further processing.