Petition for Natasha’s recall did not meet requirement – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the petition for the recall of the Senator representing the Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, did not meet the requirement of Section 69(a) of the Constitution.

The electoral body said this in a tweet on its official handle, on Thursday.

“The petition for the recall of the Senator representing the Kogi Central Senatorial District has not met the requirement of Section 69(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended),” the commission wrote.

The development comes after the suspended lawmaker accused the electoral body of bias in the attempt to recall from the senate.

Addressing her supporters in Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State, on Tuesday, the senator, who arrived the venue in a chopper, following the move to stop her homecoming rally, had said, “What I see INEC doing is aiding and guiding petitioners on how to perfect their illicit acts,” she said while addressing the jubilant crowd

“The first time the petition was submitted, they didn’t have address and phone numbers, so INEC went out to guide them on how to submit information that will perfect their petition.

“And what did they do? The petitioners, who were from the other party, the APC, submitted a letterhead. What was the name of it? Kogi Central Political Frontier. And the address there was number 4, Oboroke.”

She said the address does not exist, disclosing that she ran a check on the status of registration of Kogi Central Political Frontier, the association which sponsored her recall.

“And the CAC report came negative, that the association is not registered. So, I’m still waiting and wondering why INEC has not yet made a statement to that effect or sent people down to Oboroke here, which is just five minutes away, to ascertain whether that address is real.

“Or have we stooped to the point whereby fictitious, non-existing associations and individuals can call for the recall of a senator? Are we in a kangaroo country? We should not allow that.

“I don’t know whether the process will be stalled, but we are in courts as well. Also, I don’t know when they will come down here to verify. But I will say this, if the time ever comes for the verification of the 250,000 people that signed for my recall, I trust that you will do right.”