ABUJA/Nigeria: The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended the recall petition against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan due to the petitioners’ failure to provide complete contact details, a key requirement in the recall process.
In a statement signed by Mr. Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, INEC noted that the petitioners only submitted the lead petitioner’s phone number and an incomplete address (“Okene, Kogi State”), which does not meet the requirements outlined in Clause 1(f) of the commission’s regulations.
The petition, which reportedly gathered 474,554 signatures from 902 polling units, will remain on hold until the petitioners provide the necessary contact details. INEC emphasized that the recall process must strictly adhere to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act of 2024, and the commission’s detailed regulations.
While affirming its commitment to due process, INEC stated that it would proceed with the verification of the signatures based on the registered voters per polling unit. The commission further clarified that if the petitioners fully comply with the submission requirements under Clause 1 of its regulations and guidelines, it will announce the next steps in accordance with the law.
