By Titilope Adako

Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has received a notification from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) about a recall petition filed by voters in her constituency.

INEC has also informed the Senate leadership about the petition and is set to verify the signatures of the petitioners to confirm their authenticity.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, confirmed in a statement that the petitioners had submitted the required addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of their representatives.

Olumekun said, “Further to the statement issued yesterday, Tuesday 25th March 2025, the Commission hereby confirms that the contact address of representatives of the petitioners, their telephone numbers and e-mail addresses have now been provided in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Commission, dated today Wednesday 26th March 2025.

“As provided in Clause 2(a) of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, a letter has been written to notify the Senator sought to be recalled about the receipt of the petition and delivered to her official address.

“The same letter has been copied to the presiding officer of the Senate and published on the Commission’s website.

“The next step is to scrutinise the list of signatories submitted by the petitioners to ascertain that the petition is signed by more than one half (over 50%) of the registered voters in the Constituency.

“This will be done in the coming days. The outcome, which will be made public, shall determine the next step to be taken by the Commission. We once again reassure Nigerians that the process will be open and transparent.”

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently serving a six-month suspension for misconduct and abuse of Senate rules, had accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment.

On Wednesday, Zubairu Yakubu, who wrote the petition, appeared before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions alongside former Education Minister Dr. Oby Ezekwesili to defend the allegations.

However, the committee dismissed the petition, stating that the matter was already in court.

During the session, Ezekwesili and Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi (Ebonyi North) engaged in a heated exchange.

Why We Are Recalling Senator – Constituents

Kogi Central constituents, under the aegis of the Kogi Central Grassroots Movement, held a rally in Okene in support of the recall, urging INEC to expedite the process.

The Coordinator, AbdulHameed Jimoh, and Secretary, Mohammed Abdullahi, accused Akpoti-Uduaghan’s supporters of spreading false narratives about the recall process.

Jimoh said, “We are appealing to Nigerians to ignore the lies of a few people on social media about our intention and pay a visit to Kogi Central to see what is happening with the process.

“She (Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan) accused the state government of being behind her recall when she knows that even those who were her strong loyalists in the (Kogi) Central have abandoned her.

“She went to the National Assembly to pursue her personal interest, not the interest of Kogi Central.”

Jimoh further alleged that “last weekend, the senator’s camp sent some items to some people in Okene to convince them to come out the next day for a protest.

“They imported people from outside the district to join her very few and reluctant aides and called them Kogi Central constituents.”

Jimoh maintained that Akpoti-Uduaghan had brought unnecessary controversy to the district, saying, “The recall process, therefore, is a necessity and deliberate attempt by the people of Kogi Central to tell the whole world that they are not in support of the unruly behaviour of the senator at the assembly.

“She should leave the stage to face her strange activism and quarrels so that we can have quality representation.”

Natasha Hails Ezekwesili

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan praised Dr. Ezekwesili for standing by her, describing the former minister as a champion of accountability and an icon of visionary leadership.

In a post on her X handle, she tweeted, “Ma’am, I apologise for the insults. Know you took them for me… for us … as a mother and as a leader. Know that you are a true icon of integrity, courage, and visionary leadership.

“Your unwavering commitment to good governance, education, and democracy continues to inspire generations. A champion of accountability. Nigerians appreciate you. I celebrate your brilliance, resilience, and selfless service. You are a true icon of integrity.”

Dr. Ezekwesili responded on X, saying, “A torrent of insults from any source is but a little price to pay in our resolve to see a Nigerian that becomes.

“Our daughters and granddaughters must never inherit battles and wars we should have fought and won for them. An unjust society that silences women and vulnerable people can never become.”

Speaking on television, Dr. Ezekwesili criticised the conduct of senators at the hearing, saying, “That attitude pervades the way our lawmakers are behaving. I was actually very pleased with what happened yesterday (Tuesday) because now it is in the public domain what women endure in many instances, and the rest of society may know little about it but has not focused on it.

“The society should not allow any group or persons, no matter how powerful they are, to shut the voices of accountability.”

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