The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially rejected the petition to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, stating that the number of valid signatures submitted by the petitioners did not meet the constitutional requirement.
In a statement released on Thursday, INEC disclosed that only 208,132 signatures were verified after a thorough review. This represents 43.86% of the 474,554 registered voters in Kogi Central Senatorial District—falling short by 29,146 of the 237,278 signatures required by law.
Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, emphasized that the petition failed to satisfy Section 69(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates that over half of the registered voters in a constituency must sign a recall petition for it to be valid.
“Across the 902 Polling Units in 57 Registration Areas and five Local Government Areas in Kogi Central, INEC verified 208,132 signatures. This is below the constitutional threshold,” the statement read.
INEC confirmed that no further action will be taken on the recall process, and a public notice has been issued accordingly. The breakdown of the verified signatures by local government areas has been published on INEC’s official website and social media platforms.
The failed recall attempt has intensified political tensions in Kogi State. Allegations have emerged suggesting the move was orchestrated by loyalists of former Governor Yahaya Bello—an outspoken political rival of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The Senator has repeatedly criticized Bello’s administration, fueling speculation that the recall effort was politically motivated. Reports also surfaced that some constituents were misled into signing the petition under the guise of participating in an empowerment programme.
Additionally, the Federal High Court in Lokoja had earlier issued an injunction halting INEC from proceeding with the recall process, following claims of fraudulent signatures. Although the case is scheduled for hearing on May 6, 2025, INEC’s latest ruling may render the matter moot.
With INEC’s announcement, the bid to unseat Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has officially collapsed.
