INEC questions validity of Natasha’s recall petition over missing contact information
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised significant concerns regarding the petition seeking the recall of suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central. In a statement released on Tuesday by Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the Commission acknowledged receipt of the petition, which was submitted alongside six bags of documents purportedly containing signatures from over half of the 474,554 registered voters in the district.
However, INEC emphasized that the petitioners failed to provide mandatory contact information, including addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses, as specified under the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024. The petition was presented by Charity Ijese and received by INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony. Unfortunately, it lacked clear contact details, with only the lead petitioner’s phone number included, which does not suffice for proper communication.
The petition represents constituents from five local government areas: Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi, and Okene, spanning 902 polling units across 57 registration areas. Nevertheless, INEC criticized the vague address provided, merely stating “Okene, Kogi State,” which fails to meet the necessary standards.
In its statement, INEC reiterated that the recall process is governed by the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and the Commission’s own guidelines. The Commission will initiate the verification of the signatures only when the petition adheres to all legal requirements. This verification process will occur openly at each polling unit, permitting both the petitioners and the senator in question to appoint observers.
Signature verification will utilize the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System to ensure transparency and fairness. Furthermore, INEC urged the public to disregard any rumors circulating on social media, reaffirming its commitment to conducting the recall process in accordance with the law.
Should the petitioners provide the required contact information, INEC will announce the next steps in line with the established legal framework. In the meantime, the Commission is exploring alternative methods to communicate with the petition representatives.
Source: PUNCH
