Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of bias in handling the petition seeking her recall from the Senate.
Speaking to a jubilant crowd in Okehi Local Government Area (LGA) on Tuesday, she alleged that INEC was actively guiding petitioners affiliated with the All Progressives Congress (APC) on how to legitimise their claims.
Akpoti-Uduaghan criticised INEC for allegedly assisting the petitioners in refining their submission. She claimed that the initial recall petition lacked essential details, such as addresses and phone numbers, but that INEC intervened to help rectify these issues.
“What I see INEC doing is aiding and guiding petitioners on how to perfect their illicit acts,” she stated.
She further alleged that the recall was orchestrated by a fictitious organisation, Kogi Central Political Frontier, whose listed address—No. 4, Oboroke—does not exist. According to her, a search at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) confirmed that the group was not legally registered.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s rally took place despite a ban on public gatherings imposed by the Kogi state government due to alleged security concerns.
Arriving in a chopper, the senator defied the restrictions, which also included a curfew declared by Amoka Monday, chairman of Okehi LGA.
She questioned why INEC had not taken steps to verify the legitimacy of the petitioners or their claims, adding that she and her supporters were prepared to challenge the recall process in court.
“I’m still waiting and wondering why INEC has not yet made a statement to that effect or sent people down to Oboroke here, which is just five minutes away, to ascertain whether that address is real. Or have we stooped to the point whereby fictitious, non-existing associations and individuals can call for the recall of a senator? Are we in a kangaroo country? We should not allow that.
“I don’t know whether the process will be stalled, but we are in courts as well. Also, I don’t know when they will come down here to verify.
“But I will say this, if the time ever comes for the verification of the 250,000 people that signed for my recall, I trust that you will do right.”
