“The Law Did Not Specify How Many Times You Can Undertake That” – INEC on Failed Recall of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that there is no constitutional limit on the number of times a lawmaker can be subjected to a recall process. This clarification comes in the wake of a failed recall attempt against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central.

Rotimi Oyekanmi, the chief press secretary to the INEC chairman, addressed the issue during an appearance on *Politics Today*, a Channels Television programme. He explained that the law does not specify restrictions on how many times a recall can be attempted, only that it must meet the required threshold.

“I don’t think the law talked about whether there could be a repeat or not; the law just talks about the threshold,” Oyekanmi stated. “If you want to recall, you must have, in addition to your petition, 50 percent plus one signature. Section 69 of the constitution does not limit the number of times a lawmaker can be recalled.”

Earlier, INEC had announced that the petition seeking Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recall failed to meet constitutional requirements. According to the commission, the number of constituents who signed the petition did not reach 50 percent of the registered voters in the senatorial district, as mandated by the 1999 Constitution.

Addressing concerns about bias, Oyekanmi denied any political interference in the recall process. He explained that the initial petition was returned because it lacked the petitioners’ address, a requirement under INEC regulations.

“In the case of Kogi Central, we received a petition and a cover letter. However, the petitioners did not include their address as required. We simply asked them to supply it. There was no foul play,” he said.

The recall attempt was initiated on March 24, when some members of Kogi Central submitted a petition to INEC, arguing that the suspended senator should be removed to allow for active representation. Charity Omole, a representative of the petitioners, claimed that more than 250,000 out of 488,000 registered voters had signed the recall petition.

INEC later notified Akpoti-Uduaghan of the petition and received the contact details of the petitioners. However, the senator accused the electoral body of unfairly assisting the petitioners in refining their recall submission.

“What I see INEC doing is aiding and guiding petitioners on how to perfect their illicit acts,” Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged during a rally in Kogi. She claimed that the petitioners, affiliated with the All Progressives Congress (APC), initially failed to include necessary details but were later guided to correct their submission.

Despite the controversy, the recall effort ultimately failed to meet constitutional requirements, leaving Akpoti-Uduaghan’s seat in the Senate intact.