The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that the contact details of representatives involved in the recall process of Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan have now been made available. This development marks a critical step in the unfolding petition process aimed at removing the senator from office.
Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, announced the update in an official statement on Wednesday. According to him, a formal letter containing the petitioners’ representatives’ phone numbers, email addresses, and other key contact information was submitted to INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
This comes in response to an earlier statement from the commission on Tuesday, which highlighted the petitioners' failure to provide essential details such as addresses, phone numbers, and emails, as required under INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024.
With the necessary details now in place, INEC has formally notified Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan about the petition. The commission stated that an official letter was delivered to her office and also forwarded to the Senate’s presiding officer. For transparency, the document has been published on the INEC website, making it accessible to the public.
Olumekun’s statement read in part:
“Further to our statement issued on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, the commission hereby confirms that the petitioners’ representatives have submitted their contact details in a letter addressed to the chairman of the commission, dated Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
As outlined in Clause 2(a) of the Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, a formal letter has been sent to notify the Senator concerned about the petition. This communication has also been shared with the Senate’s presiding officer and published on INEC’s official platform.”
INEC has emphasized that the next crucial step in the recall process will be the verification of the signatories backing the petition. The commission will assess whether the petition has garnered support from more than 50% of registered voters in Kogi Central Constituency.
The verification process is expected to take place over the next few days, and its findings will determine the next course of action in the recall procedure.
The electoral body reassured Nigerians of its commitment to openness and transparency, stating:
“Our next step is to thoroughly examine the list of signatories to ensure that more than half of the registered voters in the constituency have endorsed the petition. The results of this verification will be made public and will guide the commission’s next decision.”
The recall petition against Akpoti-Uduaghan follows a series of controversies. The senator was suspended from the Senate on March 6, 2025, after being accused of “gross misconduct” in a dispute involving Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The petition, titled “Constituents’ Petition for the Recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Grounds of Loss of Confidence,” alleges that she has engaged in misconduct, abused her office, and displayed a pattern of deceit.
As the recall process progresses, INEC has assured the public that all procedures will be carried out in a fair and transparent manner. The commission reiterated its responsibility to uphold democratic principles and ensure that the will of the electorate is accurately represented.
With the verification phase now imminent, all eyes are on INEC’s findings, which will ultimately determine the fate of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s senatorial position.