Natasha Recall: ‘INEC Duty Is To Verify Signatures, Not To Be Part Of Signature Compiling’ – Official

…Recalling Process Continues Thursday 

By Onoja Baba, Abuja, Nigeria. 

An offficial of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kogi State, has revealed that the role of the commission is to verify the signatories to the reported recall petition being filed against the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The official who doesn’t want his name mentioned as he was not authorized to speak to African Culture TV, explained that it was true that as at the time he was speaking, the commission was yet to be officially informed of any recall process and that was what the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Gabriel Longpet, told the media when he was contacted on Wednesday.

African Culture TV observed that the recalling process which continued on Thursday had a large turn out from constituents at Adavi Local government of the senatorial district.

Recall that African Culture TV reported on Wednesday that the recall process of Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, commenced, with reports indicating that the exercise is gaining momentum in Okehi Local Government Area of the state.

One of her constituents, Nuhu Usman, took to Facebook on Wednesday, sharing images of people gathered at a polling unit in Okehi. “The recall exercise of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from various wards is successful in Okehi Local Government of Kogi State.

“The good people of Okehi LGA have spoken,” Nuhu wrote.

The recall process follows a series of political battles between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, which led to her recent suspension from the Senate.

The Kogi Central senator had been at loggerheads with Akpabio over allegations of injustice and exclusion in the Senate. She accused the Senate leadership of sidelining her in committee appointments and attempting to silence opposition voices.

Her troubles escalated when she openly challenged Akpabio on the Senate floor over issues relating to the change of seating arrangement at the senate. This confrontation led to her suspension in March 2025, on allegations of misconduct and breach of Senate rules.

Despite the suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan remained politically active. In a bold move, she attended the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, where she raised concerns about legislative independence and the alleged suppression of dissenting voices in Nigeria’s Senate.

Her appearance at the international forum sparked further controversy, with some seeing it as an act of defiance against Akpabio’s leadership.

Under the Nigerian Constitution, a senator can be recalled if at least 50% of registered voters in the senatorial district sign a petition. INEC must then verify the signatures before conducting a referendum.