Akpoti-Uduaghan: Recall petition fails signature requirement

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the petition to recall Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Senate has failed to attract the required number of signatures to implement the action.

The Commission stated this in a statement yesterday in Abuja by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun.

Olumekun said that the 208,132 signatures/thumbprints ascertained from the submitted petition fell short of the 50 per cent plus one (at least 237,278 voters) signatures in the constituency constitutionally required to commence recall action.

He said that INEC, at its regular weekly meeting, considered and approved the report of its physical count of the signatures/thumbprints forwarded with the petition for the Senator’s recall, in line with Clause 2(b) of the Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024.

Olumekun recalled that INEC had assured Nigerians that it would handle the matter fairly, in accordance with the law’s provisions, regulations, and guidelines.

He explained, “The Commission assured Nigerians that it would handle the matter fairly to the parties involved and in accordance with the provisions of the law and our Regulations and Guidelines.

“First, we ensured that the petitioners complied with the requirements for submitting the petition.

“Secondly, we notified the member who sought to be recalled in writing, copied the Senate presiding officer, and simultaneously published the notice on our website.

“Thirdly, we informed Nigerians that the next step would be to carefully ascertain the number of signatures/thumbprints to ensure that the petition complies with the law’s requirement. This exercise has now been completed.

“For emphasis, a petition for the recall of a Senator must comply with the provision of Section 69(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), which requires the signatures of more than one-half of the registered voters in the constituency.

“The total number of registered voters in the Kogi Central Senatorial District is 474,554. More than half of this figure (i.e., 50%+1) is 237,277+1, which is at least 237,278 voters.

“Across the 902 Polling Units in 57 Registration Areas and five Local Government Areas that make up the Senatorial District, the Commission ascertained 208,132 signatures/thumbprints from the submission made by the petitioners.

“This translates to 43.86 per cent of the registered voters, which falls short of the constitutional requirement of 29,146 signatories.

“Consequently, the petition has not met the requirement of Section 69(a) of the Constitution. Therefore, no further action shall be taken on the recall of the Senator.

“The Public Notice, along with a summary of the review of the signatures/thumbprints of the petitioners, which Local Government Areas disaggregate, are available on our website and social media platforms for public information.”

The INEC commissioner said that, in accordance with Clause 2(d) of the Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, INEC had issued a public notice to that effect, which was also copied to the senate’s presiding officer.

He added that public notice and a summary of the review of the petitioners’ signatures/thumbprints, which were disaggregated by local government areas, were available on the INEC website and social media platforms for public information.