A group of registered voters from the Kogi Central Senatorial District has submitted a petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately commence the recall process for suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Senate.
In a letter signed by the lead petitioner, Salihu Habib, submitted at INEC headquarters, Abuja, on Monday, the constituents declared they no longer have confidence in Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan as their senator and representative in the National Assembly.
The petitioners, under the aegis of Concerned Kogi Youth and Women, urged INEC to act with urgency and impartiality in processing the petition in the interest of democratic accountability, governance integrity and the peace and progress of Kogi people and Nigeria.
“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 Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Nigerian Senate.
“In particular, this petition for the recall of 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,’’ the petitioners stated.
They said the petition arose from the constituents’ loss of confidence in Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan on the grounds of gross misconduct in the Senate, abuse of office, evasion of due process and lack of respect for the presiding officer.
According to them, the petition was signed by more than half of the registered voters in Kogi Central senatorial district.
“We hereby demand that INEC immediately commences the constitutional and procedural process of recall to remove Akpoti-Uduaghan from office and declare her seat vacant,’’ the petition stated.
Speaking with the journalists after submitting the petition, the lead petitioner expressed confidence that the process would be the first successful recall process in Nigeria.
“It is simple; we need a credible representative; we need a credible senator who can speak the minds of the good people of Kogi Central,’’ he said.
Mr Habib denied the allegation that the former Governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello, instigated the recall process.
“ Bello is not here. Habib is here. Many youths are here. Many women are here. I can’t see Yahaya Bello here,’’ he said.
A member of the group, Charity Omole, said the entire people of Kogi Central Senatorial District could not afford not to have a representative in the Senate for the next six months.
“So we are here to tell INEC to please follow the constitutional process so that her recall process can begin; that is why we are here,’’ she said.
She also denied being bankrolled by anybody, saying, “We are the ones who voted for her, and we are saying we don’t want her anymore.’’
Another petitioner, Hamza Yakubu, urged INEC to speedily swing into action and review the petition submitted to it on the commencement of the recall process in line with the constitution.
At the time of filing this report, no official reaction had been made by INEC over the submission of the petition.
(NAN)
