INEC Informs Senate President Akpabio of Rejection of Recall Petition Against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially informed Senate President Godswill Akpabio that a petition to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, has been rejected. The petition, which was filed on March 24, 2025, failed to meet the constitutional requirements set out in Section 69(a) of the 1999 Constitution.

INEC explained that the petition did not meet the necessary legal threshold to initiate a recall process. While the petition had garnered 208,132 signatures from registered voters in Kogi Central—representing 43.86% of the electorate—it fell short of the required support. The Constitution mandates that at least 50% plus one of the registered voters in a constituency must sign a petition for it to be valid.

As a result, INEC stated that no further action would be taken on the recall petition, referencing Clause 2(d) of the Regulations and Guidelines for the Recall of Members of the National Assembly and other legislative bodies. The commission’s decision was formally communicated in a public notice issued on April 3, 2025, which was forwarded to key figures in the National Assembly, including Senate President Akpabio and the Secretary of the Commission, Mrs. Rose Oriaran-Anthony.