The Independent National Electoral Commisson (INEC),
has received a petition for the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from
Kogi Central Senatorial District voters.
The petition titled— Constituents’ Petition For The
Recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Grounds of Loss of Confidence,
which is dated March 21, 2025 and received by the Chairman of INEC reads:
“We, the undersigned, being duly registered voters of
the Kogi Central Senatorial District, hereby invoke our rights under the laws
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to formally demand the recall of Senator
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Nigerian Senate.
“In particular, this petition for the recall of
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is brought pursuant to Section 69 of the 1999
Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended), as well as INEC’S
Regulations and Guidelines for Recall Petitions.
“Kindly recall that Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan emerged as
our Senator by verdict of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, on Tuesday October 31,
2023 which affirmed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate as winner of
the February 25, 2023 Kogi Central Senatorial election.
This petition arises from our loss of confidence in
the Senator on grounds of gross misconduct, abuse of office, evasion of due
process and a pattern of deceitful behaviour that has not only embarrassed the
people of Kogi Central constituency but has also tarnished the integrity of the
Nigerian Senate and our nation’s democratic institutions.
“By this petition, which we have made sure is signed
by more than one-half of the registered voters in Kogi Central, we hereby
demand that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) immediately
commence the constitutional and procedural process of recall to remove Senator
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from office and declare her seat vacant.” The group of
voters wrote.
It will be recalled that the embattled Senator Natasha
Akpoti-Uduaghan had granted a tell-all interview at Arise News news network
recently, and exposed alleged sexual harassment and intimidation against the
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
Last minth, Akpoti-Uduaghan briefly disrupted plenary
during her protest against the seat she was allocated in the Senate. The
confusion degenerated into a a shouting match between her and the Senate
President, who subsequently referred her to the Ethics Committee for
disciplinary action.
Thereafter, Senator Natasha went on Ari’s News,
accusing Akpabio of making repeated sexual advances at her, adding that her
ordeal in the Senate started after she rejected Akpabio’s advances.
She followed up with a petition on sexual harassment
against Akpabio, but the Senate suspended her afterwards, citing her misconduct
during plenary.
Natasha has also expressed fears for her life because
she has been stripped of security protection which now make her vulnerable to
attacks.
“I am. And one of the conditions attached to my
suspension is withdrawing my security. If I’going grocery shopping, if I’m
taking my kids on a walk– I have a two-year-old-would I be killed? Would I be
attacked? I have this just run through my head immediately.”
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