The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed on Wednesday that the contact details of the representatives of the petitioners in the recall process for Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central Senatorial District have been amended. This follows an earlier error in the recall petition that was raised by the electoral body.
According to a statement from INEC's National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, the updated contact information, including phone numbers and email addresses, was submitted to INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu on March 26, 2025. This update comes after INEC had pointed out that the petitioners' original submission lacked the necessary contact details, as required under the 2024 Regulations and Guidelines for Recall.
The commission further confirmed that it had sent an official letter to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, informing her of the receipt of the recall petition. The letter, which was also sent to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, was delivered to Akpoti-Uduaghan's official address and has been published on INEC’s website.
The next phase of the recall process involves INEC verifying whether the petition has been signed by more than 50% of the registered voters in Kogi Central. This verification will determine the next steps in the recall process, which will be made public in the coming days. INEC reassured the public that the process will be transparent and in full adherence to legal guidelines.
The recall petition, initiated by the constituents of Kogi Central, accuses Akpoti-Uduaghan of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and deceit. It is titled "Constituents’ Petition for the Recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Grounds of Loss of Confidence." The petition claims that over 200,000 registered voters, more than half of the district’s electorate, have signed in support of the recall.
In a separate development, tensions escalated during a Senate hearing on a petition filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan, accusing Senate President Akpabio of sexual harassment. The hearing, which involved prominent public figures such as former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili, saw a heated exchange between Ezekwesili and Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi.
Ezekwesili, who had appeared before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions to advocate for Akpoti-Uduaghan, clashed with Nwebonyi when she interrupted his request to make a submission. Nwebonyi, visibly angered, retaliated by calling Ezekwesili “an insult to womanhood” and stating that she would “never be a senator.” The altercation quickly became a topic of public discussion, with Nwebonyi defending his response in a later interview, claiming that he had simply reacted to what he saw as disrespect.
Ezekwesili, on the other hand, defended her actions in an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, stating that the incident shed light on the challenges women face in a patriarchal society. She expressed satisfaction with the exchange, arguing that it highlighted the often-dismissed struggles of women in such environments.
As the political crisis continues, both the recall process and the ongoing controversy in the Senate remain key issues under scrutiny.
