This figure falls short of the 237,278 signatures needed, as stipulated by Section 69(a) of the 1999 Constitution.”
By Ife Osemedua
365Daily – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially terminated the recall process for Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central, citing an insufficient number of signatures required to meet constitutional requirements.
According to INEC, only 208,132 out of the 474,554 registered voters in the senatorial district—amounting to 43.86%—signed the recall petition.
This figure falls short of the 237,278 signatures needed, as stipulated by Section 69(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which requires more than half of the registered voters in a constituency to endorse such a petition.
INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education, Sam Olumekun, stated on Thursday, April 3, 2025, in a press statement, that the commission had conducted a thorough verification process and determined that the petition did not satisfy the constitutional threshold.
“The Commission had assured Nigerians that it would handle the matter with fairness and in accordance with the law. After verifying the submitted signatures, we confirmed that the petition only secured 43.86% of voter endorsements, which is 29,146 short of the required number. Consequently, no further action shall be taken on the recall process,” Olumekun said.
INEC outlined the steps taken in handling the recall petition. First, the petitioners met the initial submission requirements. The commission then formally notified Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Senate presiding officer, and the public.
Following this, a detailed review of the signatures was conducted to ensure compliance with legal requirements.
The commission confirmed that across 902 polling units and 57 registration areas in the senatorial district, the number of valid signatures did not meet the 50% + 1 threshold.
A breakdown of the signatures by local government areas showed that in Adavi, 32,671 voters out of 114,663 signed the petition. In Ajaokuta, 45,808 out of 96,504 supported the recall. In Ogori Magongo, 9,369 out of 17,688 voters signed, while in Okehi and Okene, only 37,064 and 83,220 out of 94,456 and 151,243 registered voters, respectively, endorsed the petition.
As per Clause 2(d) of the 2024 Regulations and Guidelines for Recall, INEC has issued a public notice declaring the recall attempt unsuccessful. The notice, signed by INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony, confirms that the commission will not proceed with further steps.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) hereby notifies the public that the recall petition for Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, submitted on 24th March 2025, has NOT met the constitutional requirement. Consequently, NO FURTHER ACTION shall be taken on the petition.”
The public notice, including a summary of the verification findings, is now available on INEC’s website and social media platforms for public access, the election umpire stated.