Some constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District have initiated a recall process against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, citing a vote of no confidence in her representation.
The recall process, witnessed in Okehi Local Government Area on Wednesday, saw a large number of electorates on the queue to register their support for the recall process.
One of the electorates, Nura Ibrahim, said the exercise is being carried out beyond party lines because of the growing dissatisfaction among constituents with Akpoti-Uduaghan’s performance, particularly in addressing key issues like poverty, infrastructure, and education.
“The decision to initiate the recall process was not taken lightly, with key stakeholders stating that they had tried to engage with Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan on several occasions, but their efforts were met with disdain and arrogance,” he said.
The recall process is expected to take two days across all polling units in the five local governments of Kogi Central.
During this time, constituents will be required to sign a petition calling for the senator’s recall.
However, reports gathered that constituents were reportedly tricked into appending their signature after a town crier went around Okehi on Tuesday, inviting people for empowerment, but on getting there, they were asked to submit their voter card number in exchange for money.
According to reports by Punch, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Gabriel Longpet, who denied any knowledge of a recall.
“I am not aware of any recall process, apart from the unconfirmed reports flying about on social media.
“No one has contacted me about any recall in any part of the state,” Longpet said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan is currently serving a six-month suspension after she allegedly ran foul of Senate rules during a face-off with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio
She subsequently accused the Senate president of alleged sexual harassment.
According to reports a petition for recall of a lawmaker shall be presented to the Chairman of the Commission by representatives of the petitioners, having notified the member sought to be recalled, in writing, of the receipt of the petition.
According to INEC’s regulations and guidelines for a recall, such notification shall be delivered to his/her official address, and the presiding officer of the applicable legislature will be copied and published on the Commission’s website.
Also, the commission will ascertain that the petition is signed by more than one-half of the registered voters in the member’s constituency, and the list of signatories to the petition shall constitute the Register of Petitioners (Form EC41) for the purpose of the recall.
According to the guidelines, verification shall be carried out in the Polling Units at the constituency of the member sought to be recalled.
