The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has confirmed the receipt of addresses, phone numbers and emails of signatories to the petition seeking to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan of Kogi Central Senatorial District from the 10th Senate.
INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, in a statement on Wednesday, said the additional information was submitted in a letter addressed to the Commission’s Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu.
Recall that INEC had on Tuesday picked holes in the petition over the failure of petitioners to fully comply with its rules by providing addresses, phone numbers and emails.
Olumekun disclosed that the Commission will scrutinize the list of signatories submitted by the petitioners, adding that he next step of the recall process, which is verification of all voters who signed the petition will take place in the coming days.
According to him, the goal is to verify that more than half, over 50 per cent, of the registered voters in Kogi Central Senatorial District have endorsed the petition.
He further disclosed that “As provided in Clause 2(a) of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, a letter has been written to notify the Senator sought to be recalled about the receipt of the petition and delivered to her official address.
“The same letter has been copied to the presiding officer of the Senate and published on the Commission’s website.”
He added that the outcome of the verification, which will be made public, shall determine the next step to be taken by the Commission, while reassuring Nigerians that the process will be open and transparent.
Natasha has been embroiled in a rift with the leadership of the Senate which led to her suspension for six months.
But the Senator has denied any wrongdoing and filed a suit, challenging her suspension from the hallowed chambers.
Irked by the development, over 50 per cent of registered voters from her Constituency signed a petition to INEC, seeking the immediate recall of the embattled Senator, citing their loss of confidence in her.
