Interests in Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s home constituency, Kogi Central Senatorial District, have initiated a recall process against the Legislator.
However, loyalists to the Senator claimed citizens were being tricked into appending their signature after being to believe the exercise was an empowerment programme.
Those behind the scheme say the female Senator, locked in a sex harassment allegation against the Senate President, has lost their vote of no confidence in her representation.
However, the Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Gabriel Longpet, denied any knowledge of a recall process.
Longpet told journalists: “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.”
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.
The recall process, witnessed in Okehi Local Government Area on Wednesday, saw a large number of people on the queue to register their support for the recall process.
Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan is currently serving a six months’ suspension by the Senate.
According to constituents, the exercise was 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,” one Nura Ibrahim said.
