INEC Declares Kogi Central Senatorial Petition Invalid Due to Insufficient Voter Turnout
Abuja, 3 April 2025 – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that the petition submitted by representatives of the petitioners regarding the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, does not meet the constitutional requirements for a recall.
In a public notice issued on Thursday, 3 April 2025, INEC stated that the petition, submitted on Monday, 24 March 2025, failed to garner the necessary support from registered voters in the constituency. According to Section 69(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), a recall petition must be supported by at least 50% plus one of the registered voters in the constituency.
The commission revealed that out of the 474,554 registered voters in Kogi Central Senatorial District, only 208,132 voters signed the petition. This figure represents just 43.86% of the total registered voters—falling short of the required threshold. As a result, INEC has declared that "no further action shall be taken on the petition."
The public notice, signed by Mrs Rose Oriaran-Anthony, Secretary to the Commission, cited Clause 2(d) of the Regulations and Guidelines for the Recall of a Member of the National Assembly, House of Assembly of a State, or Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (2024) as the basis for the decision.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who has been representing Kogi Central since her election, will remain in her position following the dismissal of the recall petition. The announcement brings an end to the recall effort initiated by the petitioners, who had sought to remove the senator from office.
