There appears to be a new dimension to the controversy over the attempt to recall the embattled senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that the petition submitted for her recall fell short of certain requirements.
The Commission’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education, Sam Olumekun, made the declaration in a statement issued Tuesday.
Olumekun said the Commission would take the necessary steps in line with laid down provisions if the petitioners completed the process in the appropriate manner.
“The Commission held its regular weekly meeting today, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. Among other issues, the meeting discussed the petition for the recall of the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District.
“The process of recall is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022 as well as the Commission’s detailed Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, available on our website. All petitions will be treated in strict compliance with the legal framework.
“The petition from Kogi Central Senatorial District was accompanied by six bags of documents said to be signatures collected from over half of the 474,554 registered voters spread across 902 Polling Units in 57 Registration Areas (Wards) in the five Local Government Areas of Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi and Okene.
“The Commission’s immediate observation is that the representatives of the petitioners did not provide their contact address, telephone number(s) and e-mail address (es) in the covering letter forwarding the petition through which they can be contacted as provided in Clause 1(f) of our Regulations and Guidelines. The address given is “Okene, Kogi state,” which is not a definite location for contacting the petitioners. Only the telephone number of “the lead petitioner” is provided as against the numbers of all the other representatives of the petitioners.
“The Commission wishes to reiterate that the recall of a legislator is the prerogative of registered voters in a constituency who sign a petition indicating loss of confidence in the legislator representing them. Once the petition meets the requirements of submission, as contained in our regulations, the Commission shall commence the verification of the signatures in each Polling Unit in an open process restricted to registered voters that signed the petition only.
“The petitioners and the member whose recall is sought shall be at liberty to nominate agents to observe the verification, while interested observers and the media will also be accredited. At each Polling Unit, signatories to the petition shall be verified using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
“Consequently, if the petitioners fully comply with the requirements of Clause 1(f) of the Regulations and Guidelines regarding the submission of their petition, the Commission will announce the next steps in line with the extant laws, regulations and guidelines. In the absence of a definite contact address, the Commission is making efforts to use other means to notify the representatives of the petitioners of the situation.”
N500m claim
Meanwhile, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has described as “false” the claims that she received N500 million from the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.
The senator noted that the claims were “complete fabrications” designed to mislead the public and damage her reputation.
In a statement released Tuesday in Abuja, Akpoti-Uduaghan categorically denied ever receiving such a fund and emphasised that no such a transaction ever took place.
“Let me be clear: I have never received N500 million or any amount from Senator Akpabio. At no time did I make any statement suggesting such. This is nothing but a deliberate falsehood aimed at causing unnecessary controversy,” she said.
The senator expressed deep concern over the increasing spread of fake news and politically motivated falsehoods, calling on the public to disregard the claims. She warned that the propagation of lies for personal or political advantage poses a significant threat to the country’s democratic values.
“It is unfortunate that certain individuals are willing to fabricate such blatant lies. I urge Nigerians to verify information before believing or sharing it,” she said further.
Akpoti-Uduaghan also challenged those behind the rumour to provide any credible evidence backing their claims, maintaining that she has always upheld the highest standards of integrity and accountability in public service.
“Falsehoods like this are unacceptable. My focus remains on serving my constituents with transparency and dedication, not engaging in baseless distractions,” she said.
The senator called on security agencies to investigate the source of the misinformation and take necessary action against those responsible. She re-affirmed her commitment to the principles of truth and justice, declaring, “Defamation and character assassination should have no place in our society. I am confident that the truth will always prevail.”
Egwuatu steps down
In a related development, Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court Abuja has stepped down from the case involving the embattled Natasha.
Justice Egwuatu was assigned to hear the suit, but on Tuesday, he stepped down saying he would no longer handle the case.
He made the decision after the President of the Senate, Akpabio, wrote a petition questioning his impartiality.
Although the case was scheduled for hearing, when the court clerk called it up, the judge ruled that he was stepping aside.
He said he would return the case file to the Chief Judge, who would assign it to another judge.
Blueprint recalls that on March 4, 2025, Justice Egwuatu issued an interim order stopping the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from proceeding with disciplinary actions against Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The judge ruled that the disciplinary process should not continue until the case was decided.
He also gave the defendants 72 hours to explain why the court should not stop them from investigating the senator without following the rules laid out in the 1999 Constitution, the Senate Standing Order 2023, and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.
Justice Egwuatu allowed the senator to serve legal documents on the defendants using substituted means.
The court ordered that the documents be given to the Clerk of the National Assembly or pasted at the National Assembly premises.
They were also to be published in two national newspapers.
The interim order came after the senator filed an urgent application.
However, despite the court’s ruling, the Senate Committee still held its meeting and suspended her for six months.