Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Recall Process to Be Decided in 90 Days

INEC Begins Verification of Recall Petition

The fate of suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, will be determined within the next 90 days, following the submission of a recall petition against her. Reports indicate that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is currently in the process of verifying signatures collected from her constituents.

Last week, registered voters in Kogi Central formally submitted a recall petition, signaling a loss of confidence in the senator’s ability to represent them. The process, as outlined by INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, requires that the petition must be signed by more than half of the total registered voters in the senatorial district before it can progress to the next stage.

If the petition meets the threshold, INEC will proceed with organizing a referendum within 90 days from the date of receipt of the petition. However, should the petition fail to gather the required signatures, a public notice will be issued stating that the recall process has been terminated.

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The Procedure for a Senatorial Recall

According to INEC regulations, a recall process involves multiple verification stages to ensure its credibility. If the signatures submitted meet the requirements, INEC will announce a referendum date, specifying the time, location, and other details for the voting exercise.

Per INEC’s official statement:

“Where the petition has been duly verified and more than half of the registered voters in the affected constituency endorse the recall, INEC shall conduct a referendum within 90 days from the date of receiving the petition.”

If the verification process fails to meet the required voter threshold, the recall will be abandoned, and INEC will issue a public statement to that effect.

The Controversies Leading to the Recall Petition

The move to recall Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan follows her suspension from the Senate on March 6, 2025, over allegations of gross misconduct. Her suspension stemmed from a disagreement with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, which triggered political tension and divisions among her supporters and opponents.

The recall petition, which was officially submitted to INEC last week, accuses the senator of:

• Gross misconduct
• Abuse of office
• Deceit
• Loss of confidence in her leadership

Accompanying the petition were six bags of documents containing signatures from over half of the 474,554 registered voters in Kogi Central Senatorial District. These signatures were collected from 902 polling units across the five local government areas (LGAs) of:

1. Adavi
2. Ajaokuta
3. Ogori/Magongo
4. Okehi
5. Okene

INEC’s Next Steps and Notification to Akpoti-Uduaghan

As per the guidelines, INEC has already notified Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan of the petition against her. Additionally, a copy of the petition has been forwarded to the presiding officer of the Senate.

If the verification process confirms the validity of the collected signatures, INEC will set a referendum date, where voters in Kogi Central will decide whether to remove the senator or allow her to continue her term.

Challenges Facing the Recall Process

The recall of an elected official in Nigeria has historically been a complex and difficult process due to legal and procedural barriers. Debo Adeniran, the executive director of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, pointed out that past recall efforts have largely failed due to the challenges of gathering and verifying enough signatures.

Adeniran emphasized that Nigeria should strive to ensure that its democratic processes are truly representative of the people’s will.

“In democratic societies like the United States, citizens have a more straightforward process for recalling their representatives if they lose public trust. Nigeria must work towards simplifying its recall procedures to reflect genuine democratic values.”

Calls for Reform in the Recall Process

There have been renewed calls for a review of Nigeria’s recall laws, as some experts argue that the current system makes it too difficult for the electorate to remove non-performing officials.

Auwal Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), advocated for a national debate on recall processes, suggesting that Nigeria should have clearer legal frameworks that allow recalls only on legitimate grounds.

“Recalls should be driven by public trust violations, such as corruption, abuse of office, or failure to perform legislative duties. The process should be refined to prevent abuse while ensuring transparency and fairness.”

Rafsanjani urged the government to consider a nationwide discussion on the recall process, stressing that any change must ensure that recalls are based on objective, evidence-based criteria rather than political motivations.

What Lies Ahead for Akpoti-Uduaghan?

The next 90 days will be critical in determining the political future of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. If the recall petition successfully passes INEC’s verification process, the senator will face a referendum, where voters will decide her fate through a democratic vote.

If the recall succeeds, she will be removed from office, and a fresh election will be conducted to elect a new senator for Kogi Central Senatorial District. However, if the petition fails to meet INEC’s requirements, Akpoti-Uduaghan will retain her seat, and the recall effort will be declared unsuccessful.

The ongoing recall process against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan highlights the challenges of Nigeria’s political and electoral system. While INEC follows its due process, stakeholders continue to debate whether Nigeria’s recall laws need to be reformed to either streamline or strengthen the process.

As Kogi Central constituents await INEC’s final decision, the case remains a significant test for Nigeria’s democratic institutions, setting a precedent for future recall efforts across the country.