In a surprising turn of events, Constituents in Kogi Central are demanding the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
Constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District have launched a recall process against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, citing a vote of no confidence in her representation. This move, which may lead to her removal before the end of her term, adheres to the constitutional guidelines set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for recalling elected legislators.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was illegally suspended from the Nigerian Senate on 6 March 2025, for alleged “gross misconduct”. This development came after she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, which reportedly led to intimidation from the Senate President.
Is the recall legal?
The right to recall an elected legislator is a fundamental aspect of democratic governance, enabling constituents to hold their representatives accountable for their actions and performance. The Federal Republic of Nigeria makes provisions for the recall of members of the National Assembly in section 69 of its 1999 constitution.
Section 69 provides that a member of the Senate may be recalled if:
a) there is presented to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission a petition on that behalf signed by more than one-half of the persons registered to vote in that member’s constituency alleging their loss of confidence in that member; and
(b) the petition is thereafter, in a referendum conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission within ninety days of the date of receipt of the petition, approved by a simple majority of the votes of the persons registered to vote in that member’s constituency.
Despite its legality, no legislator has been successfully recalled under the Constitution since 1999.
Details on ongoing recall against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan
The recall process witnessed in Okehi Local Government Area on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, saw a large number of electorates in a queue to register their support for the petition recall.
However, Sharara reporters gathered that constituents were allegedly tricked into appending their signatures after being invited under the guise of an empowerment program. But, upon reaching there, they were asked to submit their voter card numbers in exchange for money.
https://youtu.be/-2CU4vbo6IU?si=y49hzCWoDeh5LYGN
After days of coalition, a total of over 250,000 signatures out of about 480,000 registered voters were recorded from all polling units in the five LGAs of the Kogi central senatorial district. The number of signatures collected meets INEC’s required 50% for the senator’s recall.
INEC will now verify the signatures of each constituent upon receiving the petition to confirm if they are genuinely registered voters in the senatorial district. If the petition passes the verification stage, INEC will organise a referendum where constituents will vote either “YES” or “NO” on whether to remove the lawmaker from office.
To succeed, the “YES” votes must exceed 50% of the total registered voters in the constituency, not just those who participate in the vote. The entire process must be completed within 90 days from the date INEC receives the petition.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan continues her fight for justice
Although suspended from the senate, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan remains steadfast in her fight for justice. Her legal counsel, Victor Giwa, challenged the suspension in court, but Justice Obiora Egwuatu ruled in favour of the Senate, reversing an earlier order that had declared any action against Natasha during the legal proceedings null and void.
Taking her fight to the global stage, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan addressed the Women in Parliament session at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in New York. She called for the intervention of international democratic institutions, describing her suspension as unlawful and expressed concerns about potential intimidation and detention for speaking out against powerful figures.
Adding to her efforts to garner international attention, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has also appeared on international broadcasting channels such as the BBC and Sky News, speaking out against her suspension and the unfair treatment she has received.
“I found the courage to speak up”
Nigerian senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan spoke to Sky’s @annabotting about being suspended for six months after accusing the senate president of sexual harassment.
He denies the allegations.https://t.co/n02alGK3Sr
Sky 501 pic.twitter.com/hVtdFqCYAy
— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 19, 2025
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan will triumph and continue representating the people of Kogi Central. However, the outcome of Natasha’s fight may have significant implications for the future of Nigerian politics and the treatment of women in the country’s political landscape.
