By Folorunso Alagbede, in Abuja
A petition seeking the commencement of a recall process against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. (Kogi Central) has been formally submitted at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Abuja.
The petition, which was submitted on Monday, was received by the Secretary to the Commission, Mrs Rose Oriaran-Anthony.
The constituents, in a petition signed by the Lead Petitioner, Salihu Habib, submitted at INEC headquarters, Abuja on Monday, declared that they no longer have confidence in Akpoti-Uduaghan as their Senator and representative in the National Assembly.
The petitioners, under the aegis of ‘Concerned Kogi Youth and Women,’ urged INEC to act with urgency and impartiality in processing the petition, in the interest of democratic accountability, governance integrity and the peace and progress of Kogi people and Nigeria.
The petitioners claimed that they have over 250,000 signatures of constituents, out of about 480,000 registered voters in the Kogi Central Senatorial District of Kogi State, where Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan is representing in the National Assembly.
Signatories to the petition explained that the action arose from their loss of confidence in the Senator on the grounds of gross misconduct, abuse of office, evasion of due process, and a pattern of deceitful behaviour that has embarrassed the people of Kogi Central among others.
Titled “Constituents’ Petition for the Recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Grounds of Loss of Confidence”, the petition reads:
“We, the undersigned, being duly registered voters of the Kogi Central Senatorial District, hereby invoke our rights under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to formally demand the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Nigerian Senate.
“In particular, this petition for the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is brought pursuant to Section 69 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), as well as INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall Petitions.
“This petition arises from our loss of confidence in the Senator on the grounds of gross misconduct, abuse of office, evasion of due process, and a pattern of deceitful behaviour that has not only embarrassed the people of Kogi Central but has also tarnished the integrity of the Nigerian Senate and our nation’s democratic institutions.
“By this petition, which we have made sure is signed by more than half of the registered voters in Kogi Central, we hereby demand that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) immediately commence the constitutional and procedural process of recall to remove Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from office and declare her seat vacant.”.
The petition, which claims to have met the requirements stipulated by Section 69 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, was submitted with over 250,000 signatures out of 480,000 registered voters.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, it will be recalled, was slammed with a six-month suspension for allegedly breaching Senate Rules. This was after she had leveled sexual harassment allegations against the Senate President, Mr Godswill Akpabio.
However, the Kogi Central Senatorial District Senator has maintained her innocence and has filed a suit in court challenging her suspension by the Senate.
